Thursday, June 30, 2005

More about the postcards....

Don't be too disappointed if you go to the show in Normal and the postcards don't make an appearance. Sebastian called tonight and -- among other things about home and tour and Jody Glow meeting people in London who know Seb -- said there may still be technical glitches to work out before the postcards can actually make their debut. Nothing major. Something about the supports for the postcards themselves. They just want to make sure that when the postcards do show up, that everything's perfect. Didn't want to be giving the debut a big buildup for Normal and then it doesn't happen.

We'll keep you posted...............

Today is Thursday, June 30; it's a rehearsal day

We are in Metamora, Illinois

camp

Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Weather report and forecast for Metamora

Click for Google map of Metamora. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Today's Menu
Breakfast
Blueberry muffins

Lunch
Chili dogs (2 each)
Jell-o with fruit
Veggies and dip

Dinner
Chicken Parmesan
Spaghetti with sauce
Garlic bread

Snack
Potato bar
Cookies

Today's Schedule
9 Wake
9:15 Stretch and run
10 Breakfast
11 Sectionals
1:30 Lunch
2:30 Vis
5:30 Dinner
6:30 Ensemble
9 Snack
10 Lights out

Today's Cooks
Polly (head cook)
Rod R.
Tom R.
Kim K.
Debbie A.
Penny D.
Roger D.
Pat R.
Pam W.

Today's News


Happy 17th birthday Rachel Dement!

The postcards arrived yesterday. Greg brought them in a nice new trailer that's used to haul them. They're huge and they look awesome. The stands for them are being assembled today and the staff hopes to use the Vis time today to integrate them into the show and have them on the field Friday night at Illinois State as planned.

Greg drove Twit last night. Apparently the kids were pumped about that.

The weather was cooler for last night's show and that helped everybody's attitude because the kids Rod talked to all said they had a good show.

About 5:30 this morning, the Colts' traveling road show hit a massive storm in Illinois with lots of hard rain. They pulled off to refuel and take a break from the storm and just then a power outage hit the gas station. The power came back on and they got going again with little delay, though.

Rod says: "Polly wanted me to tell you she fell out of the bunk last night, but she's OK." Glad to hear it. The OK part, not the falling out of the bunk part.....

Somebody asked about the map we had last year that parroted the "WAS, ARE, WILL BE" map from the side of the real cooktruck. Well, that was the most labor-intensive part of the VCT last year because each one had to be done by hand in a page layout program and then saved as a jpg. And I had to keep changing them because housing sites changed, or I didn't have a housing site until the last minute, so I was scrambling to get one done. Anyway, Google maps are more interactive and actually can be useful for finding he housing site. Mostly it was I ran out of time to do them. -- david

As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.

Wednesday, June 29, 2005

Today is Wednesday, June 29; it's a show day

We are in Port Huron, Michigan

camp

Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Weather report and forecast for Port Huron

Click for Google map of Port Huron. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Today's Menu
Breakfast
Bacon
Hash browns

Lunch
Fish sandwich
Carrots au gratin
Fruit salad and cottage cheese

Dinner
Tater tot casserole
Texas toast grilled
Lettuce salad
Chocolate cake with white icing

Snack
Corn dogs
Peaches

Today's Schedule
8 Wake
8:15 Stretch and run
9 Breakfast
10 Vis
12 Lunch
1 Sectionals
2 Ensemble
4 Dinner, pack, load, clean
5:45 Leave for show site
6 Warmup
7:49 Colts perform
8:30 Snack
9:30 Load trucks
10 Depart for Metamora, IL – 454 miles

Today's Cooks
Polly (head cook)
Rod R.
Tom R.
Penny D.
Roger D.
Pat R.
Debbie A.
Pam W.
Kim K.

Today's News

Last night’s show was great. The crowd reaction was awesome – it wasn’t just the cooks you could hear cheering. Rod asked the cooks their reaction to the show and "They said, almost in unison – ‘We kicked *ss.’ "

The inside scoop is that the postcards are on their way and could be in Friday night’s show in Normal. That’s gonna kick *ss. Wish I was gonna be there.

As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.

Tuesday, June 28, 2005

Today is Tuesday, June 28; it's a show day

We are in Belding, Michigan

camp

Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Weather report and forecast for Belding

Click for Google map of Belding. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Today's Menu
Breakfast
Pancakes
Leftover French toast
Bananas

Lunch
Tamale pie
Cauliflower-cabbage salad
Apples

Dinner
Pulled pork sandwiches
Potatoes and gravy
Lettuce salad

Snack
White cake with strawberries

Today's Schedule
9 Wake
9:15 Stretch and run
10 Breakfast
11 Sectionals
1 Lunch
2 Vis
3 Ensemble
4:30 Dinner, pack, load, clean
6 Depart for stadium
6:40 Warmup
8:06 Colts perform
8:40 Snack
9:30 Load trucks
10 Depart for Port Huron, MI -- 167 miles

Today's Cooks
Polly (head cook)
Tom R.
Rod R.
Penny D.
Roger D.
Pat R.
Debbie A.
Pam W.
Kim K.

Today's News

Happy birthday Valerie Atwood and Jordan Arnett

The cooks indeed left Ohio yesterday afternoon with the trucks but the early arrival didn't exactly work out with a later than expected departure, accidents that slowed traffic (not Colt vehicles in accidents -- other people), and construction. Didn't get in until 9 p.m. so the cooks got set up and then went out to dinner. (?)

Went to bed about 12:30 a.m.

Kids got in about 4 a.m. after a pretty much relaxing free day. 3 buses went to the Put-In-Bay ferry and 1 to Cedar Point. The Colts that went to Put-in-Bay did "a whole lot of nothing." At Cedar Point, every rollercoaster was ridden "once, twice or three times."

As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.

Monday, June 27, 2005

Today is Monday; June 27; it's a free day

We are in Sandusky, Ohio

camp

Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Weather report and forecast for Sandusky

Click for Google map of Sandusky. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Today's Menu

Breakfast
Egg casserole
Watermelon
Cantaloupe
Bananas

Lunch and dinner on their own

Today's Schedule
9:30 Wake and eat
10:30 Sectionals and standstill runthrough
11:30 Pack and load
12:30 Depart for free day – Put-In-Bay or Cedar Point amusement park
10:30 Buses pick up from free day
11 Depart for Belding, MI – 247 miles

Today's Cooks
Polly (head cook)
Tom R.
Rod R.
Penny D.
Roger D.
Pam W.
Kim K.
Deb A.
Pat R.

Today's News

(Well, I forgot I was going to be gone today, so this is a little late…went to Connecticut and back today. From Des Moines. How can you forget you’re going to Connecticut….)

Sunny and hot in Ohio for the Colts for free day. Rod says his informal poll put the corps split at about 70 percent going to Put-in-Bay (because there’s shade) and about 30 percent going to the amusement park.

The cooks, the cook trailer and the equipment trailer were going straight for Michigan to get set up and await the arrival of the corps after free day. Have a good night’s sleep!

Rod says it blew up a big storm right after the Colts got loaded up and headed for the show sight last night and it had stopped before they arrived. He says the cooks and the crowd thought last night’s show was incredible, but the corps members gave a mixed review. Some said they had a great show; some said they had a bad show. One member review was that they had "too much energy" after three straight days of rehearsals.

As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.

Sunday, June 26, 2005

Letter from Holland

Here's an email I received from Olaf (Alf), easily the Colts biggest fan -- if height is what counts. For the uninitiated, Olaf Nahon is a Colt former marching member from Holland who came over from the Netherlands last summer to travel with the Colts and help out on the cooktruck. Olaf is joining tour again in Dallas this year, to stay with the corps through finals. Irina is his wife. Below is the letter just as I recieved it today. He loves drum corps with every inch of his amazing height, and he loves the Colts more than he loves drum corps.

enjoy,
david



Hi guys,

Finally I got my chance to sniff the new Drumcorps season.
Yes I know you’ve been busy last months, but being so far away on the other side of the lake, called Atlantic Ocean, I could only read on the internet about all the developments.
Getting very jumpy about all the good news, show program and best of all seeing all you guys working your buds off to get and keep the show going. Only 24 days and counting before my plain leaves for Dallas.

But I can say I have seen something you haven’t seen yet. The new show of the Blue Devils.
The are visiting Europe so I couldn’t let this chance go bye, so I jumped in my car and drove for only 1,5 hour to see BD performing almost in my backyard.
21 corps from England, Belgium, France en Holland were there and I only got to see 3 off them. Due to obligations I could only make it to see last 4 shows and I saw BD warm-up.

But the best thing of it all I could show Irina (my wife) what Drumcorps is in the states.
I am not sure if that was the right thing to do because all she did was being very cold, the weather cooled off yesterday after a few days in 90s. How do you explain Drumcorps to someone who has no idea what it is like? The answer ….. not!!!
She saw 2 Dutch corps and BD, she is a good annalist by the way, and liked only 1 show.
Guess what …………………….. it wasn’t BD’s show.

She loved the guard (being a dancer herself) and found the members very skilled in the Horn-line. (sorry guys she doesn’t understand percussion, her quote: "they must be weirdo, repeating the same rithem for minute after minute after hour …., can’t they just play some thing nice?" I did try to explain the necessity of warming up etc. but I couldn’t convince her.)
Her analyzing was actually spot on, she like BD tricks on their horns and drums.
"Definitely high quality, superb sound but I can’t make head nor tail from their show" was her honest comment, which put my enthusiasm and boosting down the drain.
I have to admit that despite the excellent talent they display I couldn’t be intrigued by their show either. I love what they did last year with the train theme, but what are they doing this year ….?!?! To be honest on paper Colts show sounds much more entertaining.

So all in all I finally showed American Drumcorps to my girl and I could not impress her to much. There goes my pride … sniff. But I have to say seeing BD made me longing for you guys at Colts. So after an evening of surrogate I am really looking forward for the real thing ..
Cooking for my Corps the one and only Colts from Dubuque Iowa.

By the way while showing of my corps jacket a member of Jubal came up to me and started to talk about my cool outfit, he told me he marched Colts in ‘96. Made me proud to say that I marched in ‘88 and cooked in ’04.
Fun to meet an unknown family member in the middle of nowhere.
Fun are also the response you get from Drumcorps Fans. Several Dutch people marched with Blue Devils, Star of Indiana, Madison Scouts, Cavaliers, you can tell by their corps jackets, but they really start looking when you walk by in you Colts jacket … stays something special.

So after a day of Drumcorps drug I am feeling high with a lot of energy. I can’t wait to meet up with you guys for the real thing. See you all later after July 20th.

Olaf "Alf" Nahon

Today is Sunday, June 26; it's a show day

We are in Naperville, IL

camp

Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Weather report and forecast for Naperville

Click for Google map of Naperville. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Today's Menu
Breakfast

French toast
Canteloupe
Sausage links

Lunch
Taco salad
Bread sticks
A variety of fruit

Dinner
Flip-top sandwiches (I think that's what he said)
Corn
Lettuce salad
Some kind of green salad with a bunch of good stuff in it
Cookies

Snack
Strawberries over cake

Today's Schedule
7 Wake
7:15 Stretch and run
8 Breakfast
9 Walk to stadium
9:15 Warmup
10 Full ensemble
12:15 Lunch
1:15 Sectionals
2:30 Visual
4 Dinner, pack and load (fast)
5:45 Leave for stadium
7:30 Warmup
8:50 Gate time
9 Colts perform
9:45 Snack
11 Depart for Sandusky/Put-in-Bay, OH - 311 miles

Today's Cooks
Polly (Head cook)
Tom R.
Rod. R.
Kim K.
Pam W.
Penny D.
Roger D.
Pat R. and Debbie A. arrive

Today's News
The Harrises showed up with their fruit drop.

It was 98 degrees yesterday. Today started out hazy with a nice breeze. All of a sudden, it cleared off and it was beastly hot again.

The stadium they've been using is great -- lights and big stands -- but it is artificial turf with little black granular rubber that comes up through the turf -- I know exactly what Rod was talking about because our high school stadium has the same turf. The turf makes it about 10 degrees hotter on their feet.

The band boosters at Naperville were great. They brought all sorts of donations, food and non-food. They did a cookout Saturday for the Colts and then did root-beer floats for snack.

Rough duty for cooks: "We stayed in the band practice hall with the a/c turned way up. It was freezing in there. It was awesome," Rod says.

As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.

Saturday, June 25, 2005

Today is Saturday, June 25; it's a rehearsal day

We are in Naperville, IL

camp

Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Weather report and forecast for Naperville

Click for Google map of Naperville. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Today's Menu
Breakfast

Eggs and pancakes

Lunch
Chicken breasts
Broccoli
Tater tots

Dinner
(Provided and prepared by the Naperville band boosters)
Hamburgers
Potato salad
Cut veggies
Fruit salad

Snack
(Naperville band boosters, again)
Root-beer floats

Today's Schedule
7:45 Wake
8 Stretch and run
8:45 Breakfast
9:15 Staff meeting
9:45 Brass and guard transport (walk) to stadium; percussion on field near cooktruck
10 Horns and guard vis at stadium (about a quarter mile away through town); perc vis
1 Horns and guard walk back to school
1:15 Lunch
2 Meeting at truck
2:15 Percussion and guard to stadium; brass on field near cooktruck
2:30 Sectionals
5:30 Perc and guard back to cooktruck
5:45 Dinner
6:45 Full corps to stadium
7 Ensemble
10:15 Snack
11:15 Lights out

Today's Cooks
Polly (Head cook)
Tom R.
Rod. R.
Kim K.
Pam W., Penny and Roger D. arrive
Bill S., Rob P., and Bruce A. leave

Today's News

New head cook! Goodbye to Barry after 2 weeks of head-cook duties. Hello, Polly, through July 4.

Bill says: (I'm gonna miss his daily weather reports, but Rod will keep us filled in now) "Crappy day here. Hot as hell."

Lots of donations coming in from the Naperville band boosters and other people showing up with supplies. Bill says they now have two weeks' supply of strawberry jam and will serve it until it runs out. All sorts of other stuff showing up too. Thanks!

Lori Connolly came to help with the food drop on Thursday in Cedar Rapids and stayed to help out all day! Thanks, Lori.

As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.

Friday, June 24, 2005

RE: Fruit

Somebody asked about fruit, what kinds and how much to bring. Here's the response from Head Cook Barry.

Any fruit in any quantity is welcome at any time, of course. It is good for the corps and can be served fresh or made into salads, desserts, etc. If you wish to bring fruit, the best thing to do is bring a goodly amount of one kind.

Barry's guidelines for amounts:

Apples, bananas, peaches, or plums: by the case
Grapes or strawberries: by the flat
Watermelon: 4 to 5 large watermelons (ones with seeds). Seedless melons or smaller seeded ones -- bring 8 to 9.
Canteloupe: 15 to 20

Feel free to bring other things too. We listed a few this morning. And here's the list published in the itinerary that was sent to parents:
Gasoline gift cards
National Brand fuel gift certificates
Kid flavor cereals
Peanut butter and jelly
#10 cans of practically anything
Did we mention fuel cards (I'm getting the idea fuel is expensive this year....)

Thanks!

Today is Friday, June 24; it's rehearsal/laundry day

We are in Naperville, IL

The Colts beat the Blue Knights for 3rd Place on Thursday night - 65.5 to 64.9. Whoo-hoo! Sebastian called me from the bus last night as I was driving back from Cedar Rapids and the kids were going crazy in the background. (And the Colt Cadets'show was cute as heck.)

camp

Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Weather report and forecast for Naperville

Click for Google map of Naperville. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Today's Menu
Breakfast
Bagels
Sausage
Leftover hash browns
Leftover cinnamon rolls

Lunch
Hot dogs
Mac and cheese

Dinner
Tamale beef cornbread
Lettuce salad

Snack
Food stop (Wal-Mart shopping trip)
Peanut butter and jelly

Today's Schedule
8:30 Wake
9:30 Eat
10:30 Sectionals
1 Lunch
2 Vis at stadium (10-minute walk, but Carla says kids ain't walking in this heat. They'll be bused)
4 Ensemble
5 Dinner
6:30 ?
(Laundry sometime; Wal-Mart stop sometime)

Today's Cooks
Barry
Bill S.
Rob P. (still there. Way to hang in there, Rob)
Bruce A.
Kim K.
Rod R. and Tom R. arrived today

Today's News

Hot. "I heard it was 90 degress at 9 a.m." -- Bill
Everybody's drinking water. Lots of water.

Uneventful trip from Cedar Rapids to Naperville. Lots of celebrating after the Colts beat B.K. It was great to see the kids so pumped up.

Lots of help in Naperville today. Rod R. and Tom R. showed up for cook duty and brought helpers with them for the day. Bill says: "New people. Spouses to help. Local people. It's great."

People have asked what they can bring to the cooktruck. Barry is putting together a wish list of fruit and amounts to bring, but while he's doing that here's some stuff they could use:

Strawberry jelly. Or other jelly -- not grape.
Your kid's favorite cereal.
Milk -- skim or 2%. Bring 2 or 3 gallons of each.
Bread. White or wheat sandwich bread. We have to buy that every day.

Email me if you have suggestions (speer.david@gmail.com) or just post a comment by clicking on the COMMENT link at the bottom of this post and I'll check with the cooks.

Oh yeah, before I forget. Thanks for all the cookies! Just 'cause they didn't need more right now, don't think they are not appreciated; they are. We'll let you know when they're running low. And if you've already got/baked cookies, bring 'em on. We'll find room. And THANKS for all the offers to bring stuff. You guys are the best!

As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.

Thursday, June 23, 2005

Today is Thursday, June 23; it's a show day

We are in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

camp

Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Weather report and forecast for Cedar Rapids

Click for Google map of Cedar Rapids. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Today's Menu
Breakfast
Cinnamon rolls
Egg wraps

Lunch
Pulled pork sandwiches
Peaches
Potato salad

Dinner
Turkey and dressing
Green bean casserole
Mock tiramisu (yes, Barry, I know what this is....)

Snack (with Colt Cadets)
Pretzels

Today's Schedule
9 Wake
9:15 Stretch and run
10 Breakfast
11 Vis
1 Lunch
2 Sectionals
3 Ensemble
5 Dinner, pack, load
6:40 Depart for stadium
7 Arrive and warmup
8:28 Gate time
8:38 Colts perform
9:15-10 Snack with Colt Cadets
10:45 Depart for Naperville, IL - 223 miles

Today's Cooks
Barry (head cook)
Bill S.
Rob P.
Bruce A.
Kim K. arrived last night
Luba S. leaves today

Today's News

Arrived at 4:45 a.m.
It's hot as heck.

Suzie's flags for the closer arrived and "they look really cool."
The corps put some changes in the closer into the show and some other tweaks. The tubas are now kneeling on the left side as they play their featured intro (I think he meant in Jubilee near the end of the show, but I haven't seen it so I don't know for sure) instead of moving. The sound is "really cool and consistent," Bill says.

The duet in the ballad that was being played from the left side of the 50 (as the crowd looks at the field) has moved to the right side of the 50.

A plea from the cooktruck:

"We need fruit. No cookies, no cookies, no cookies, no cookies."

As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.

News article from Omaha.com

Clicking on the title of this post will take you to an Omaha.com article about the Colts' downtown performance Wednesday in Omaha. Omaha.com is the website of the World-Herald newspaper.

(You have to register to read the whole article, but it's free)

A correction from yesterday's news

John and Marie Reidelbach actually bought the 34 delicious pizzas for the Colts' lunch Wednesday in Omaha, which were enjoyed and appreciated by all. Sorry the wording in yesterday's news said they "arranged" to have them donated. I just misinterpreted the phone call from the road.

Thanks John and Marie for the pizzas and for giving the cooks a break on a hectic day!

Wednesday, June 22, 2005

BR and the DCI.org Interview

Brandon Rogers was the dci.org interview yesterday. Why didn't somebody tell me?

Today is Wednesday, June 22; it's a performance and show day

We are in Omaha, Nebraska

camp

Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Weather report and forecast for Omaha

Click for Google map of Omaha. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Today's Menu
Breakfast
Scrambled eggs
Bacon
Cinnamon rolls

Lunch
Pizza (donated)

Dinner
Kung Pau chicken
Sweet and sour chicken
Fried rice
Egg rolls

Snack
Bus snacks on the road

Today's Schedule
7:30 Wake, eat, pack, load, clean, get uniforms
9:30 Depart for downtown Omaha standstill performance (cooks, cooktruck to stadium)
12 Performance
1:15 Leave for stadium
1:45 Lunch
2:30 Rehearse in stadium
4:20 Runthrough
4:45 Shower and dress
5:15 Warmup
6:47 Gate time
6:57 Colts perform
7:30 Dinner
8:15 Meal ends
9:30 Pack trucks
10 Depart for Cedar Rapids - 269 miles

Today's Cooks
Barry (head cook)
Bill S.
Luba S.
Rob P.
Bruce A.
Susan B., Carol O., Marie R. are leaving today
Kim Kleopfer arrives

Today's News

Hot, hot, hot.
"It's a little different morning here. 90 degrees and no wind. Yesterday wasn't bad,but today is ridiculous," Bill says.

It's a different day, with the downtown standstill performance in the middle. The cooks and cooktruck are going directly to the stadium to set up, while the corps, buses, and equipment truck go downtown.

The "play and tell" on yesterday's schedule was the brass playing while the percussion watched and then the perc. playing while the brass watched.

Snack last night was mustgo. At 11 p.m. Bill says they were washing pans until 1:30 a.m. (always lots of pans with mustgo night) and then up about 6 for breakfast. Ah, life on the road.

Notes: Thanks to John and Marie and Carol for arranging for today's pizza lunch to be donated and delivered. They're the best.

Ed Castle in Sioux Falls showed up to drive people around to shop for groceries. Nobody in the corps. Just wanted to help.


As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

UPDATE-Today is Tuesday, June 21; it's a rehearsal day

We are in Blair, Nebraska
(Updates with revised menues and more news)

ballet
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Weather report and forecast for Blair

Click for Google map of Blair. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Today's Menu

Breakfast
English muffin
Hash browns
Breakfast mustgo

Lunch
Grilled cheese
Chips
Watermelon

Dinner
Noodles
Bread sticks
Lettuce salad
Lemon bars

Snack
(Still) To be determined

Bill says: "We're having lemon bars at some time today, just don't know when."

Today's Schedule
8:30 Wake
8:45 Stretch and run
9:30 Breakfast
10:30 Meeting at cooktruck
10:45 Vis
1:30 Lunch
2:30 Sectionals
4 Ensemble
5:30 Dinner
6:30 Warmup
7 Ensemble
8:30 Play and tell (sweet!) (David's note: I don't know what in the heck this means. Anybody got a clue?)
9 Sectionals
10 Time off
12 Lights out

Today's Cooks
Barry (head cook)
Bill S.
Luba S.
Rob P.
Susan B.
Marie R.
Carol O.
Bruce A.

Sue Howard brought watermelon today. Partial donation from Wal-Mart.

Today's News


Both sets of Jeff Fountain's grandparents showed up, as did his mom and a cousin. The Fountains brought 32 dozen cookies -- also a Wal-Mart donation.

Kyle Kuckleman's family -- mom and dad and two siblings -- came to visit.

Tammy Cave showed up. She and Tom plan to be at the show in Omaha.

"All kinds of visitors today," Bill says.

Most of the news from yesterday was related to the weather. A series of big storms blew through Sioux Falls yesterday and last night. The storm cancelled the show -- but not the pizza stix. The Colts snack was already out in the ovens and thawing when the show was cancelled, so the intrepid cooks waited for a break in the rain, cooked the stix in 15 minutes and got the whole corps through the line and served in about 15 more. "It stopped raining long enough to get them fed dry -- not wet," Bill says.

They packed up and headed for Blair, NE, staying one jump in front of some pretty nasty weather by heading south and making phone calls to Nathan's storm-tracking friend in Missouri. Got in about 1:15 a.m. and down about 2, just in front of another big rain.

There was also a severe weather "drill" during Monday's rehearsals. The corps was notified that a front was moving through with "70 mph sheer winds" so the members got everything off the field and on the trucks and took refuge in the air-conditioned school. "The kids were remarkable," Bill says. "Scrambled off the field, got all the stuff in, into the trucks, into the school, really, really fast."

"Then we got nothing." The storm went around them. "Only worked out to be a drill."

Today looks better. "Dana College is beautiful. Really beautiful. It's overcast right now. Hope it stays that way."

As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.

Monday, June 20, 2005

News "flashing" bye

You've heared it from Holland first!
Colts are really full steam (as I understood during my phone-call with Barry)
Kids were blowing a 70 mph right into the cooktruck, or it might have been a weather change!

Reading all the results and reviews on the net I just can't wait to see you all.
Great choice of music and I am thrilled to see the show.
Unlike last year I have been training my cooking for this season.
So be prepared for some Dutch influenced dishes, or it probably will turn out that I will learn more from the Colts cookbook.

Go Colts GO ...!
See you in Dallas

Seatback pouches

If you have instructions/measurements/suggestions for sewing a seatback pocket for the Colts' buses (the one made out of a towel), please email me or write a comment by clicking on the link at the bottom of this post. I have a parent who would like to get in touch with someone who knows how to make them.
thanks,
david

Today is Monday, June 20; it's a show day

We are in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

camp
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

camp
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.


Weather report and forecast for Sioux Falls

Click for Google map of Sioux Falls. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Today's Menu
Breakfast
Biscuit, egg, sausage & cheese sandwiches
Cereal

Lunch
Pork chops
Scalloped potatoes
Green beans

Dinner
Meatball sandwiches
Salad
Peach or pear fruit cups
Creme de menthe cake

Snack
Pizza stix (Barry called back later to say he might change snack)

Today's Schedule
9 Wake
9:15 Stretch and run
10 Breakfast
11 Sectionals
1:30 Lunch
2:30 Vis
3:30 Ensemble
5:15 Dinner
7 Depart for stadium
7:30 Warmup
9 Gate time for Colts performance
(Colts are the encore corps tonight so the times below are approximate)
10 Snack
11 Load
11:30 Depart for Blair, NE - 173 miles

Today's Cooks
Barry (head cook)
Bill S.
Luba S.
Rob P.
Susan B.
Marie R.
Carol O.
Bruce A. was in Sioux Falls this morning waiting for them when they arrived!

Today's News

The show was really good Sunday night in Menomonie. The Colts jumped a couple of points are still closing on Blue Knights. Carla was pleased and the kids were really positive about the show. "They had more energy than they did Saturday night (in Coon Rapids)," Bill said.

Carla said there, of course, were still things to work out, "but they're fixable."

The corps pulled in to Sioux Falls an hour early -- 5:30 instead of 6:30. "The cooks actually got an hour or two of down time. That's a good thing," Bill said.

As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.

Sunday, June 19, 2005

Super show

Omigod. Our kids are sooooooooooooooooo good.......

Jody and I made the trip to Coon Rapids, MN, on Saturday to see the Colts, and let me tell you, they are LOADED this year. Sure, I'm prejudiced. Those are 135 of my favorite 138 kids in the whole world (I've got 2 older boys and a daughter-in-law in addition to the two in this year's Colts). But the drum corps world better wake up. The Colts are for real this year.

The first thing we heard when we got there was how fantastic the first show was Friday night. Everybody said the whole corps was "on" for the first real performance of the year. The performance level was way up and superb. They blew everybody away, including the stadium announcer, who -- from reports from Colts themselves -- when he was wrapping up their show said, "The Colts?" with a rising, implied question at the end.

Yeah, baby. These are the Colts. The Colts who, from what I saw Saturday night, are going to surprise a lot of people this year.

The kids themselves were not as impressed with their show Saturday night. Some liked what they did; some weren't as high on their performance. I think they know where they are in the year and see already what they need to do to get where they ultimately want to be. And that's what's important to them. Not a single show early in the season. I think it's a fantastic show right now, and it's just going to get better and better. And the postcards are not even in yet.

Speaking of postcards, I saw little versions of them over the weekend and they are going to blow everybody away when they get put into the show. (Maybe as early as next week....) There were suggestions that I take pictures of them and put them up here or that they be put up on the Colts website. I think the kids should get the priviledge of unveiling them on the field for a screaming, clapping crowd. It's not my place to upstage that. (Stepping down from my soapbox)

A four-hour trip on Saturday to work in the cooktruck and see and photograph the Colts in performance. A great night's sleep in Coon Rapids (thanks Bill and Luba) while the Colts and cooks and staff went on to Menomonie. And a four-hour drive home. Can't think of any better way to spend the Father's Day weekend. (And I got a whiz-bang single-cup coffee maker for a present too!)

david

p.s. Thanks to Rod Russeau for filing the Virtual Cooktruck while Jody and I got to go play drum corps groupies for the weekend. I love my vast, hard-working, all-volunteer staff!

Today is Sunday, June 19; it's a show day!


We are in Menomonie, WI

Happy Father's Day!!!

camp

Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Weather report and forecast for Menomonie

Click for Google map of Menomonie. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.


Today's Menu
Breakfast
Pancakes
Sausage
Fruit

Lunch
Hamburgers
Fruit Salad
Condiments

Dinner
Fajitas
Spanish Rice
Red Beans

Snack
Stewed Apples with Caramel Sauce
Ice Cream


Today's Schedule
8:00 – Wake
8:15 – Stretch/Run
9:00 – Breakfast
10:00 – Visual
12:00 – Lunch
1:00 – Sectionals
2:00 – Ensemble
4:00 – Dinner
5:30 – Depart for show site (one hour drive)
6:30 – Warm-up
7:45 – Arrive at Gate
7:55 – Showtime!
8:25 – Snack
9:30 – Pack and Load
10:00 – Leave for Sioux Falls, SD (338 miles)
Monday, 6:30 AM - Arrive at Sioux Falls, SD


Today's Cooks
Barry
Bill S.
Luba S.
Rob P.
Marie R.
Carol O.
Sue B.


Today's News

Lauren is leaving today after a week of fitting and re-fitting uniforms. We may not mention you every day, Lauren, but we know you’re there and see all your hard work in a really sharp-looking corps. The word from both the cooks and kids is that the uniforms look spectacular. Thanks!!!

The word is that the Colts had a good show last night. Although they did not seem to exude quite the same tour-opening energy as they did the first night, they did pick up a few points and seemed to really enjoy themselves.

Tonight’s show site is University of Wisconsin–Stout. The athletic complex and stadium are reportedly very nice, equipped with artificial turf! Of course, I had to scope it out myself – ah, the power of the Internet – click here for a picture of the complex – it does look like a great place to perform and be a spectator. I wish I was there!

For vet parents, you may wonder about the performance, snack and departure times posted for this evening. At the end of the competition, instead of each entire Corps being present on the field, only the Drum Majors will be present to receive the awards.

Apparently, this was done to allow the Corps to change, pack and snack much earlier, getting a nice head-start on sometimes long overnight drives. For example, the Colts are leaving at 10PM, where it would have been close to midnight if all the members had to remain in uniform.


As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.

Saturday, June 18, 2005

Today is Saturday, June 18; it's a show day!


We are in Coon Rapids, MN

camp

Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Weather report and forecast for Coon Rapids

Click for Google map of Coon Rapids. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Today's Menu
Breakfast
Crispy Creme Doughnuts! (Donated locally)
Sausage Links
Cantaloupe and Bananas

Lunch
Fish Sandwiches
Oriental Coleslaw (I didn’t ask)
Mac and Cheese
Tartar Sauce and Pickles

Dinner
Pork Tenderloin w/Gravy
Mashed Potatoes
Peas and Carrots
Cheese Cake

Snack
To be determined


Today's Schedule
2:30AM – Arrived in Coon Rapids
8AM – Breakfast
9AM – Stretch and Run
9:45AM – Sectionals
12:30PM – Lunch
1:30PM – Visual
3:00PM – Ensemble
4:30PM – Eat/Shower/Pack/Load
6:15PM – Depart for show site
6:45PM – Warm-up
8:48PM – Step off!!
9:15PM – Snack
10PM – Load/Clean
10:30PM – Depart for Menomonie, WI

Today's Cooks
Barry
Rob P.
Sue B.
Marie R.
Carole O.
Larry P. and Sue H. leave today
Bill and Luba S. arrive today

Today's News

The kids were very exited about their first competitive performance last night. They had a great time, and had tons of energy!

After a good night’s sleep last night, they are back at it this morning. At 11AM, it was 84 degrees and sunny with little breeze.

As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.

Friday, June 17, 2005

Today is Friday, June 17; it's the first official show day

We are in Mankato, MN

camp

Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Weather report and forecast for Mankato

Click for Google map of Mankato. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Today's Menu
Breakfast
Breakfast burrito

Lunch
Deli sandwiches
Pasta salad
Crisp salad
Cucumber salad
Chips

Dinner
Ravioli
Broccoli
Garlic bread
Peach dump cake

Snack
Chicken nuggets

Today's Schedule
9 Wake, stretch, run
9:45 Breakfast
10:45 Vis
12:45 Lunch
1:45 Sectionals
2:45 Ensemble
4:45 Dinner, pack, load, clean
6:30 Leave for stadium
7 Warmup
8:48 Colts perform
We believe the Scouts and Colts play America/O Canada to close show tonight.

Today's Cooks
Barry
Larry P.
Sue H.
Marie R.
Carole O.
Rob P. and Sue B. arrive today

Today's News

Got into Mankato about 6 a.m. Great crowd in Lancaster for Summer Premier show with the Colt Cadets. The Cadets performed in uniform for the first time this year. "They looked as cute as could be," Barry says.

As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.

Thursday, June 16, 2005

UPDATE-Today is Thursday, June 16; it's SUMMER PREMIER SHOW day

(UPDATE with menu, schedule, and news from Barry!)

We are in Lancaster, Wisconsin

camp

Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Weather report and forecast for Lancaster

Click for Google map of Lancaster. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Today's Menu
Breakfast
French toast
Bacon
Green and red grapes (Thanks to Dan Hines' mom!)

Lunch
Gyros
Fries
Cole slaw
Rhubarb crisp (Guest cook Charlotte is in charge of this. She's just dropped by Lancaster to help with lunch today)

Dinner
Beef stew and cornbread

Snack
Corn dogs

Today's Schedule
8 Wake
8:15 Stretch and run
9 Breakfast
10 Vis
12:30 Lunch
1:30 Sectionals
4:30 Dinner
6 Warmup
7:30 Colt Cadets perform
8 Colts perform
8:30 Colts encore
9:30 Snack, pack, and load
11 Depart for 285-mile trip to Mankato, MN

Today's Cooks
Barry
Larry P.
Marie R.
Carole O.
Sue H.
Bev F. and Bev H. leave today

Today's News


Barry reported in from the cooktruck today that: "We're having another Box 5 day on the food trailer." He says the Colts and cooks are having "a spiffy little day. Warmer and not so blowy. Yesterday, everytime we opened the doors, everything blew away."

It was so chilly last night that the cooks served soup for snack. "They loved it," Barry says.

The cooks got to see mock-ups of the show postcards yesterday. "I can't wait to see the big ones," Barry said. The postcards aren't in the show yet but should be soon.

There were fireworks during he show last night -- real ones. "We don't know who was shooting them off, but they worked well with the ballad. We thought maybe we were adding pyrotechnics to the show...."

The plan for the Summer Premier show is that the Colt Cadets perform, the Colts do the show and then the Colts do something called "Encore Format Performance." Must have something to do with the no-retreat show format this year.

As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.

Wednesday, June 15, 2005

Pictures from Belmont

Thanks to Mike Ripley for these pictures from Belmont last night. Keep the pictures and reports from the road rolling in!

spaghetti

Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.
Spaghetti dinner in Belmont.


onthefield

Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.
Performing the 2005 show. Great to see the uniforms!

Today is Wednesday, June 15; it's a rehearsal day

We are in Lancaster, Wisconsin, the last stop on the 2005 Cornfield Tour

Corps member last night: "Cornfield is almost over!"

camp

Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Weather report and forecast for Lancaster

Click for Google map of Lancaster. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Today's Menu

Breakfast
Muffins
Sausage patties
Apples

Lunch
Super taco salad
Funky Jell-o

Dinner
Teryaki chicken with rice
Broccoli
Cookies

Snack
?

Today's Cooks
Barry
Bev M. arrives
Bev F.
Larry P.
Marie R.
Carole O.
Sue H.

Today's News

We arrived in Lancaster last night. "From one windy city to another."

We are eating very well today, as we have been with Barry on tour.

The show was awesome last night. I think the people really appreciated it. The kids looked totally awesome in their uniforms.

"We're just having a great time."

Thanks to Bev F. for calling early this morning.

As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Today is Tuesday, June 14; it's a show day!

We are in Belmont, Wisconsin, for the Brass and Brats show

camp

Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Weather report and forecast for Belmont

Click for Google map of Belmont. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Today's Menu

Breakfast
Scrambled eggs
Hash browns

Lunch
Pigs in a poke
Baked beans
Fruit
Chips

Dinner
Spaghetti with meat sauce
Salad with lettuce and tomato
Bread sticks

Snack
Brownies and ice cream

Today's Cooks
Barry
Sue H.
Bev F.
Larry P.
Marie R. and Carole O. arrive today.

Today's News

The Colt Cadets are having dinner with the Colts tonight.

It's the Brass 'n' Brats show day in Belmont.


As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.

Monday, June 13, 2005

UPDATE - Today is Monday, June 13; it's a rehearsal day

We are in Belmont, Wisconsin

truck

Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Weather report and forecast for Belmont

Click for Google map of Belmont. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Today's Menu

Breakfast
Waffles

Lunch
Hamburgers with lettuce and tomato
Tater tots
Jell-o
Cookies

Dinner
Oven-fried chicken
Mashed potatoes and gravy
Green beans
Biscuits

Snack
Banana pudding supreme

Today's Cooks
Barry (head cook)
Barry's mom is leaving today
Bev F.
Larry P.
Sue H.

Today's News

No call yet from Belmont. Seems reasonable as they are not overstaffed today. Will update when I hear something.

Thanks to Sue Harris for taking time out of what looked to be a busy day to call last night with Monday's menu!

As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.

Sunday, June 12, 2005

Excuse me, can we put these down now?


May_Cymb, originally uploaded by RodR.

This was taken at the May camp, and I am sure the Colts would love one of those cool evenings back! Don't let the lack of a shirt fool you - it wasn't all that warm!

Today is Sunday, June 12; it's a rehearsal day

We are in Belmont, Wisconsin

camp

Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Weather report and forecast for Belmont

Click for Google map of Belmont. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Today's Menu

Breakfast
Egg and cheese bake with bacon
Bananas

Lunch
Chicken salad
(and something. The cel phone broke up about then)

Dinner
Mexican lasagna
Corn
Margarita pie

Snack
To be determined

Today's Schedule
8 Wake
8:15 Stretch and run
9 Breakfast
10 Vis
12:30 Lunch
1:30 Sectionals
5 Dinner
6 Warmup
6:30 Ensemble
10 Warmdown/personal time
11 Snack
12 Lights out

Today's Cooks
Barry M.
Sue H.
Jill P.
Bev F.
Larry P.
Barry's mom
(Jim J. is there too, 'cause he's the one who called in)

Today's News

It's a partly cloudy, warm and beautiful day in Belmont. You could hear the battery playing in the background.

As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.

Saturday, June 11, 2005

Temporary photo gallery

Until they get posted at colts.org, my photos from May camp and Memorial Day can be seen in a temporary gallery by clicking HERE.
david

Today is Saturday, June 11; it's car wash day

We are in Dubuque, Iowa

camp

Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Weather report and forecast for Dubuque

Click for Google map of Dubuque. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Today's Menu

Breakfast
Apple-cinnamon or lemon-poppyseed muffins
Banana

Lunch
Sack Lunch
Sandwich
Peanut butter crackers
Granola bar
Fruit rollups

Dinner
Brats or meatloaf
(leftover meatloaf because many didn't eat before laundry last night)
French fries or leftover cheesy au gratin potatoes
Pear halves in a cup
Homemade cookies from Tim Crosby's mom for his birthday today

Snack
?

Today's Schedule
7:30 Wake and breakfast
8:20 Full corps meeting at cooktruck
8:40 Leave for carwash
5 Arrive back
5:30 Dinner
6:30 Warmup
7 Ensemble
8:20 Runthrough
9 Pack, load, and clean
10 Full corps meeting
11 Leave for Belmont, WI
12 Arrive

Today's Cooks
Jody G.
Larry P.
Barry
Barry's mom
Vicki D.
Mark S.
Bev M.
Bev F.
Jill P.

Today's News

The Cisco truck arrived before we were done cleaning up from breakfast and making their sack lunches so we've been going a little crazy for a while now.

Laundry night: the kids were all so energized and happy. They all took showers and did their hair and came out in real people clothes. They were happy little campers again.

As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.

Friday, June 10, 2005

Today is Friday, June 10; it's a rehearsal and laundry day

We are in Dubuque, Iowa

NOTE: There is updated housing information at colts.org.

delhi

Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

On the field in Delhi.

Weather report and forecast for Dubuque

Click for Google map of Dubuque. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Today's Menu

Breakfast
Poppyseed muffins
Bananas

Lunch
Grilled cheese sandwiches
Chicken noodle soup
Mustgoes
Veggies and dip

Dinner
Meatloaf
Scalloped potatoes
Corn
Strawberries and ice cream

Snack
No snack (laundry night)

Today's Schedule
8 Wake
8:15 Stretch/run
9 Breakfast
10 Sectionals
12:30 Lunch
1:30 Vis
5 Dinner
6:30 Leave for laundry
11 Lights out


Today's Cooks
Jody G.
Diane K.
Vicki D.
Bev F.
Mark S.
Bev M.
Jill P.

Today's News

Delhi really responded for the dog-and-pony show last night. "I think the whole, entire town showed up," Diane K. said.

The sound system arrived and is hooked up and running. The Red Pony flags arrived but the cooks haven't seen them yet. Left Delhi and arrived at Dubuque Senior High on time.

As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.

Thursday, June 09, 2005

Today is Thursday, June 9; it's a dog-and-pony show day

We are in Delhi, Iowa

puddle

Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Puddle jumping

Weather report and forecast for Delhi

Click for Google map of Delhi. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Today's Menu

Breakfast
Cinnamon twists

Lunch
Teryaki chicken breasts
Fruit salad
Fried rice

Dinner
Ravioli
Lettuce salad
Garlic French bread
Pudding cups

Snack
Pop floats

Today's Schedule
8 Wake
8:15 Cals
9 Breakfast
10 Percussion music ensemble; guard and brass sectionals
12:30 Lunch
1:30 Percussion and Brass vis; guard sectionals
5 Dinner
6 Warmup
6:30 Ensemble
7:30 Dog-and-pony
8 Ensemble (working on Tender Land and Red Pony)
9:30 Snack, pack & load
11:30 Depart for Dubuque


Today's Cooks
Jody G.
Diane K.
Vicki D.
Patty T.
Lori C.

Today's News

The word from the road: If your kids haven't called or you can't get through to them on their cel phones, blame it on the horrible cel coverage in Delhi. "Don't panic. They're all fine and dandy," the cooks say.

Poured rain yesterday, so the school officials allowed the cooks to serve lunch inside and THEN they gave the corps members access to 2 clothes dryers so they could dry the things that had gotten soaked. The hospitality toward the Colts from Delhi is above and beyond.

The first mouthpiece boil of tour was last night.
Going to do water bottle bleaching today at lunchtime.

It's a hot, sticky day. (Typical for cornfield) Skies are overcast, but no rain yet. (Not typical of cornfield)


As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.

Wednesday, June 08, 2005

Today is Wednesday, June 8; it's a rehearsal day

We are in Delhi, Iowa

tatoo

Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

A photo from Springville. Photos from Dehi coming, though, 'cause I got to see about 15 minutes of rehearsal when I dropped off Aaron and picked up Jody. Stay tuned.

Weather report and forecast for Delhi

Click for Google map of Delhi. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Today's Menu

Breakfast
Egg bake with cheese, ham, bacon, and potatoes
English muffins

Lunch
Pasta and ham salad
Choice of rubarb or cherry dump cake

Dinner
Build your own burger
Cheesy tomato bake

Snack
Soft-serve ice cream (courtesy of Maquoketa Valley High)

Today's Schedule
8 Wake
8:15 Cals
9 Breakfast
10 Brass and percussion vis; guard sectionals
1 Lunch
2 Brass vis; guard and percussion sectionals
5:30 Dinner
6:30 Warmup
7:15 Ensemble
10 Visual
11 Snack
12 Lights out


Today's Cooks
Jody G.
Diane K.
Vicki D.
Patty T.
Lori C.

Today's News

If there are inaccuracies or omissions in the menu or schedule, blame the bad cel phone service in Delhi.

Diane K. says Tuesday was a beautiful 90-degree, breezy day. This morning was cloudy, breezy but not cold. There was a threat of rain before breakfast but that blew by.

The corps performed the whole show -- including the closer -- on a football field under stadium lights for the first time last night. Cool.

"And we didn't have to get up and do breakfast at 5 o'clock this morning!" The cooks were happy. Diane said the cook crew was surviving just fine "without any males."

As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.

Tuesday, June 07, 2005

Today is Tuesday, June 7; it's a rehearsal day

We are in Delhi, Iowa

camp

Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Dinner and a baseball game. Isn't this the sport that doesn't have a halftime show?

Weather report and forecast for Delhi

Click for Google map of Delhi. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Today's Menu

Breakfast
Blueberry muffins
Choice of a banana or an orange

Lunch
Pronto Pups (corn dogs to the non-Minnesotans in the crowd)
Tater tots
Peas and carrots
Applesauce

Dinner
Spaghetti
Cheese biscuits
Romaine salad
Chocolate chip brownies

Snack
Soft pretzels

Today's Schedule
7:30 Wake
7:45 Cals
8:30 Breakfast
9:30 Brass and percussion vis; guard sectionals
12:30 Lunch
1:30 Brass vis; guard and percussion sectionals
5 Dinner
6 Warmup
6:45 Ensemble (focus on closer)
9:30 Visual
10:30 Snack
11:30 Lights out


Today's Cooks
Jody G.
Diane K.
Vicki D.
Jody S.
Patty T. and Lori C. arrived today. Jody S. leaves after lunch.

Today's News

Arrived in Delhi about 12:30 last night after the dog-and-pony in Springville. The corps was treated to an ice cream social after the performance, so the cooks did not have to prepare snack and could get ready for the move. "It was very cool," Jody S. says.

The Colts have a lighted field for rehearsals at Delhi at a "really nice school" where "everybody has been so helpful."

As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.

Monday, June 06, 2005

Comment from age-out Colt

Bill Albrecht said...

Are those weights I see on the baritone bells? Damn.


(For some reason this didn't show up as a comment on today's post, so I thought I'd put it up as a separate item. Thanks, Bill!)

Today is Monday, June 6; it's a dog-and-pony show day

We are in Springville, Iowa

camp

Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Weather report and forecast for Springville

Click for Google map of Springville. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Today's Menu

Breakfast
English muffins and jelly
Bananas

Lunch
Beef stew
Jell-o
Rolls
Veggies and dip

Dinner
Chicken, broccoli and rice casserole
Salad
Cake

Snack
Ice cream social

Today's Schedule
7:30 Breakfast
8:30 Cals
9:15 Brass and percussion sectionals; guard vis
12 Lunch
1 Brass and percussion vis; guard sectionals
4:30 Dinner
5:30 Warmup
6:15 Ensemble
7:15 Prepare for dog-and-pony
7:30 Dog-and-pony
9:30 Pack and load
11:30 Depart for Delhi

Today's Cooks
Jody G.
Jody S.
Vicki D.
Diane K.

Today's News

Dog-and-pony show at Springville is always great. Believe that Springville is hosting an ice cream social for the corps.

As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.

TV has news feature on Colts' Memorial Day performance

A KCRG TV report from Memorial Day prominently featured the Colts, including comments from Andy Tobin and Greg Orwoll.

Sunday, June 05, 2005

I'm b-a-a-a-a-a-ck

Springville was, as Bill said earlier today, wonderful -- despite rain, a storm, and then wind all day today. The Colts are transcending the weather. I heard a lot of rehearsing of "Jubilee" today while the two Jodys, Diane, Vicki, and Lori did most of the cooking chores.

There was a Romaine lettuce, crazin (dried cranberries), and almond salad with Creamy Poppyseed dressing for dinner that I'm told was delicious. There was none left for cooks, despite my best efforts at portion control. The members loved it.

It was hard to leave -- both for me and for Aaron. He's got final tests in 10th grade tomorrow and Tuesday morning, then it's on tour for summer for him. I'll bring Jody bock Tuesday afternoon -- if I can get her to leave. She's having a great time, she told me today.

Thanks to Rod and Bill for keeping up with the Virtual Cooktruck so I could go to Springville this weekend. This kind of dedication is what it's all about.

And a special thanks to Bill for his dedication to this drum corps. Despite a late night/early morning Sunday family matter, he was back on the cel phone and at the keyboard Sunday to keep the Virtual Cooktruck going. Thanks, buddy. For everything. You are, without a doubt, the best.

Oh yeah. Sleep.

david

Someone you should know.....


P1000134, originally uploaded by RodR.

This is Steve, one of the many parents who have helped out the Colts at the weekend camps. Along with other talented Dad's (Rob, Chris, Tom, Jim, Roger, and many more!), Steve worked long days and nights on many significant repairs and enhancements to the cooktruck and equipment trailers.

When you see the Colts perform, check out the nifty mallet trays attached to the instruments of the front ensemble (Steve is painting one of them in this picture). They are very cool!

Thanks to Steve and all who helped the Colts get ready for tour!

Today is Sunday, June 5; it's a rehearsal day


We are in Springville, Iowa

Weather report and forecast for Springville

Click for Google map of Springville. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Today's Menu
(There's always peanut butter and jelly/jam)

Breakfast
Pancakes, Waffles and Breakfast on a Stick
Bacon

Lunch
Sub Sandwiches
Veggies & Dip (carrots, celery, cauliflower & broccoli)
Fruit Salad

Dinner
Pork Fritters
Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
Romaine Salad
Rice Krispie Peanut Butter Bars

Snack
Chili

Today's Schedule
7:30 Breakfast
8:30 Stretch and run
9:15 Brass sectionals; Guard & Percussion visual
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Percussion & Guard sectionals; Brass visual
5:00 Dinner
6:00 Warmup
6:45 Ensemble
8:45 Music ensemble
9:30 Brass & Percussion body
10:30 Snack
11:30 Lights out

Today's Cooks
Jody G.
Lori C.
Diane K.
Vicki D.
Jody S.
Polly H.
Jim H.
David S.

Today's News

The word of the day is Wonderful.

"Ringdinger" (per David S.) of a thunderstorm with lots of lighting, thunder, very hard rain, and wind interrupted a wonderful Must Go last night. Finished serving and eating in the small gym.

Guard going to Delhi to practice due to a gym not being available today. Wonderful!

Lauren & Sue completed the fitting of the guard and started their sewing. They plan to finish a large number today so not many will need to be taken home. Wonderful progress!

Polly + Jim H. and Jane leave today. Thanks for the wonderful care and feeding of the kids.

Full ensemble performed the complete show last night - guard included. The ballad continues to evoke many tears. The quotes were "wonderful show already and it will be a wonderful year".

As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.

Saturday, June 04, 2005

Today is Saturday, June 4; it's a rehearsal day



We are in Springville, Iowa

Weather report and forecast for Springville

Click for Google map of Springville. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Today's Menu
(there's always peanut butter and jelly - and they are eating lots of it!)


Breakfast
French Toast
OJ
Cereal

Lunch

Taco Salad
Breadsticks
Corn
Bananas

Dinner
Pizza Burger on a Hoagie

Macaroni and Cheese
Strawberry Ice Cream

Snack
The ever popular - Must Go


Today's Schedule

7:30 Breakfast
8:30 Stretch and run
9:15 Brass sectionals; Guard & Percussion visual
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Percussion & Guard sectionals; Brass visual
5:00 Dinner
6:00 Warmup
6:45 Ensemble
8:45 Music ensemble
9:30 Brass & Percussion body
10:30 Snack
11:30 Lights out


Today's Cooks
Polly H.
Vicki D.
Jane W.
Jody S.
Jim H.
Jody G.
Diane K.
Lori C.
David S.

Today's News

RAIN this morning for breakfast. Moved serving and eating inside.

Sue P. and Lauren R. arrived to do Colorguard fitting.

Welcome to Jody G. and Diane K. who arrived yesterday afternoon to cook for the next week. Also welcome to Lori C. and David S. who arrived for the weekend.

Cook truck had a great view of a high school baseball game last night.


As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.



Friday, June 03, 2005

Today is Friday, June 3; it's a rehearsal day

We are in Springville, IA

snack

Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Weather report and forecast for Springville, Iowa

Click for Google map of Springville. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Today's Menu
(there's always peanut butter and jelly)

Breakfast
Breakfast on a stick

Lunch
Sloppy Joes
Green beans Parmesan
Jell-o cake

Dinner
Orange pork chops
Scalloped potatoes
Oriental salad
Watermelon

Snack
Pretzels or must-go (depending on inventory on hand)

Today's Schedule

8 Breakfast
9 Stretch/run
9:45 Percussion visual; brass sectionals; guard sectionals
12:30 Lunch
1:30 Brass vis; percussion sectionals; guard sectionals
5 Dinner
6 Warmup
6:45 Ensemble
8:30 Music ensemble
9:30 Dance class and personal time*
*Use time to work on something you personally need to work on
10:30 Snack
11:30 Lights out

Today's News

Two birthdays today: Miki R. in the brass line; Jason D. in the pit

Vicki D. joined the kitchen crew last night. Welcome aboard.

We made our first move last night -- from Platteville to Springville, with new crew assignments. The crews are still learning their jobs, but even with that:
The Colts left on time!
The Colts arrived EARLY!

The corps was greeted by a sign in front of the Springville school that said:
Cornfield starts here. Welcome Colts.

As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.

Another one from Adam

flags in front

This is another photo taken by Adam Glowaski, a member of the 2004 Colts front ensemble. There are more Colts pictures from Memorial Day 2005 in Dubuque in his smugmug gallery.

The cooktruck at night

night

Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.

Another one from May camp. It was great to see food flowing outta the cooktruck again. I'm sure the cook crew has seen enough of that, though, about now.

Thanks again to all the volunteers from camps, those who are on tour now, and those that can't wait to get on tour!

Thursday, June 02, 2005

Today is Thursday, June 2; it's a rehearsal and moving day

We are in Platteville, WI
Leaving tonight for Springville, IA

little drummer boy

Little Drummer Boy
This little guy was at Sunday's concert in the park with his drum, parked right in front of the front ensemble. Looked like he was hoping a snare spot would open up.
Click HERE to open a full-size image in a new window.


Weather report and forecast for Platteville
Weather report and forecast for Springville, Iowa

Click for Google map of Platteville. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Click for Google map of Springville. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Today's Menu
(there's always peanut butter and jelly)

Breakfast
Egg casserole
Leftover muffins

Lunch
Chili-cheese steaks
Fruit salad
BBQ beans
Dessert bar

Dinner
Soup and hot dogs
Lettuce salad
Pineapple

Snack
Pretzels (subject to change depending on how the schedule works out)

Today's Schedule

8 Breakfast
9 Cals
9:45 Percussion visual; brass sectionals; guard dance
12:30 Lunch
1:30 Brass vis; percussion sectionals; guard sectionals
5 Dinner
6 Warmup
6:45 Ensemble
8:30 Snack, pack and load
10:30 Depart for Springville
12:30 Arrive Springville

Today's Cooks
Polly H.
Jody S.
Jane W.
Jim H.
Kayleen

Today's News

The equipment trailer was in for repairs but it's back now and ready to go.

Katrina P. arrived on tour.

Carla was interviewed by the publicity department at UW-Platteville for an article.

First mail delivery of tour arrived from Dubuque. (Keep those postcards from home coming!)

Nathan last night -- "A perfect day followed by a perfect snack."

Jody S. says the weather has been gorgeous. "Not too hot, but not cold. It's been just perfect."

As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.

Wednesday, June 01, 2005

2004 Colt contributes

christine

This photo was taken by Adam Glowaski, a member of the 2004 Colts front ensemble. There are more Colts pictures from Memorial Day 2005 in Dubuque in his smugmug gallery.

Thanks Adam!

p.s. Why are most of the pictures in your gallery of the pit? :)

It's Wednesday, June 1; it's a rehearsal day

We are in Platteville, WI

couture

Colts couture
Not a shot from tour, but from Sunday's concert in the park. 2005 Colts. Postcards From Home. Sounds great, doesn't it?

Weather report and forecast for Platteville

Click for Google map of Platteville. With Google maps you can zoom in and out on a location. Click and hold on the map to drag the map in the window.

Today's Menu
(there's always peanut butter and jelly)

Breakfast
English muffins
Bananas
O.J.

Lunch
Butt chops
Pasta salad
Sliced peaches

Dinner
Southwestern beef and rice
Cabbage-cauliflower salad
Veggies and dip
Lime jell-o

Snack
Cinnamon streusel coffee cake

Today's Schedule

8 Breakfast
9 Stretch and run
9:45 Percussion visual; brass sectionals; guard dance
12:30 Lunch
1:30 Brass vis; percussion sectionals; guard sectionals
5 Dinner
6 Warmup
6:45 Ensemble
8:30 Sectionals
10 Brass and percussion inside vis; guard dance
11 Snack
12 Lights out

Today's Cooks
Polly H.
Jody S.
Jane W.
Jim H.
Kayleen

Today's News

Great weather.

The cooktruck got new whiteboards because you no longer could erase the old ones. Hmmm -- the board nazi will have to be even more vigilant.

We had 'ridiculously good' vegetable beef soup last night. The brownies rocked their world.

The brass line is learning ballet. All kinds of exercises.

"We are having a great tour!"

As always, check colts.org for the latest official word on tour news, housing sites, mail drops, or other corps information.