A Visit to Olwein!

Hi there! Just back from driving the bus to Olwein and spending Saturday with the Colts - off to Manchester tomorrow! The kids really love this show and I see it in their performance - I am really excited for 2009! I took a little over 125 photos while I was there - thanks to all the moms and dads who keep sending me thanks yous! Wow - enjoy I love doing it. You can see them all at http://coltsphotos.smugmug.com/ and remember if you purchase any prints the money all goes back to the Colts so have at it.

I'll check in after Manchester!

Photo credit

If you see Jim J., tell him thanks for the cool Blackberry pictures from the road. It really is "what's happening now."

And those are his photo efforts, despite it saying "Posted by David" at the bottom. That's just what Blogger says when you email things in.

Today is Sunday, May 31; it's a cornfield tour day

We are in Oelwein, IA

Click for weather report and forecast


View May 31 in a larger map

Today's Menu
Meal 1
Pancakes
Bacon
Banana or apple

Meal 2
Choice of hamburger or chicken patty
Tater tots
Cut veggies

Meal 3
Turkey
Mashed potatoes and gravy
Vegetable

Meal 4
Corndogs


Today's Schedule
8 a.m. Wake
8:10 Breakfast
9 Stretch
9:30 Vis
12:30 Meal 2
1:30 Sectionals
5 Meal 3
6 Warmup
6:15 Ensemble
7:15 Water/dress
7:30 D&P
8:15 Rehearsal
9:15 Eat/pack/load
11 Depart for Manchester


Today's Cooks
Barry M, head cook
Carole, head cook leaves today
Jim J
Kathy L
Margaret P
Deb H helps
Peggy F helps
Betty and Loras H help


Today's News

It's a beautiful sunny day in Oelwein. We're sad to see Carole leave today; she didn't have time to make all the yummy things she wanted too, but we've had a lot of great food this week. Thanks Carole! Barry is starting as head cook today.

We're already setting out Lost & Found. How can there be so much unclaimed stuff after one week? Looking forward to a great day of drum corps!

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

Jason's Birthday

We're having a massive must-go night, with the addition of cake donated for Jason's birthday. Curtis also has a birthday today. I must end this, I'm being called to cut cake.

Jim J

It's Saturday, May 30; it's a cornfield tour day

We are in Oelwein, IA

Click for weather report and forecast


View May 30 in a larger map

Today's Menu
Meal 1
Breakfast pizza
Strawberry cream cheese delight (they didn't use it last night)
Applesauce

Meal 2
Pulled pork sandwich
French fries
Lettuce salad
Fruit salad
Mustgoes on the side

Meal 3
Hamballs
Lettuce-cauliflower salad
Western chicken salad
Au gratin potatoes

Meal 4
Meatball French bread pizzas
Nachos
Loaded chocolate pudding


Today's Schedule
8 Wake
8:10 Breakfast
9 Stretch
9:30 Vis
12:30 Meal 2
1:30 Sectionals
5 Meal 3
6 Vis
7 Warmup and sectionals
8 Ensemble
10 Meal 4 and showers
11:30 Lights out


Today's Cooks
Carole, head cook
Jim J
Barry M arrives
Kathy L
Margaret P
Deb H helps
Peggy F helps
Betty and Loras H help


Today's News
Happy birthday Jason L and Curtis T

The corps left Platteville on time and arrived in Oelwein a half-hour early. Yay Colts!

The cooks say thanks for donations of cookies last night and fresh fruit and vegetables today.

The weather is beautiful for the corps today, if just a bit windy. The Colts sound and look great and spirits seem to be pretty good.

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

Carole's bistro

Jim says that the cooks are laughing a lot today!

It's Friday, May 29; it's a cornfield tour day

We are in Platteville, WI

Click for weather report and forecast


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Today's Menu
Meal 1
Waffles
Sausage
Peaches or Banana

Meal 2
Glazed beef
Cheddar broccoli
Scalloped potatoes
Leftover fruit pizza

Meal 3
Four-cheese Pasta
Orange sherbet salad
Pasta salad
Garlic toast
Strawberry cream cheese delight

Meal 4
Tacos


Today's Schedule
7:20 Wake
7:30 Breakfast
8:30 Travel to stadium
8:35 Stretch at stadium
9 Vis
12 Meal 2 for brass and percussion
12:30 Meal 2 for guard
1 Sectionals: horns at stadium; perc on side field
1:30 Guard sectionals
4:25 Meal 3
5:25 Travel to stadium
5:30 Warmup
6 Ensemble
8 Meal 4, pack, load
10 Depart for Oelwein, IA
1 a.m. Arrival


Today's Cooks
Carole, head cook
Jim J
Luba S leaves today
Bill S leaves today
Lisa M leaves today
Penny D leaves today
Kathy L and Margaret P arrive today
Peggy F helps in afternoon



Today's News
I'll take credit for the better weather, since the cooks are willing to give it to me. Sunnier and a little warmer. Good drum corps weather. Let's hope it holds with the move to Oelwein tonight.

Otherwise, another cornfield day.


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

Snack

Tim is excited about the beef sundae and fruit pizza!

Jim J

Rehearsal night

Cooks had time to watch a little rehearsal this evening. It is dry and not too cold. The corps looks great and the members love the music. I've got to get back to help prepare snack. The fruit pizza is going to be awesome!

Jim J

Today is Thursday, May 28; it's a cornfield tour day

We are in Platteville, WI

Click for weather report and forecast


View May 27 in a larger map

Today's Menu
Meal 1
French toast bake
Breakfast mustgoes
Bacon
Peaches

Meal 2
Mustgo Meats
Jack's Pasta Salad
Baked Potatoes

Meal 3
Western Chicken Wraps
Au gratin potatoes
Pea salad

Meal 4
Fruit pizza
Beef sundae


Today's Schedule
7:20 Wake
7:30 Breakfast
8 Staff meeting
8:30 Stretch at stadium
9 Vis
10 Guard to vis
12:30 Meal 2 for brass and percussion
12:45 Meal 2 for guard
1:35 Brass and percussion to vis
1:50 Guard sectionals
2:35 Sectionals/brass at stadium
5 Percussion to DBQ
5:30 Travel (from stadium) to Meal 3
5:40 Meal 3
6:35 To stadium
6:45 Sectionals
7:30 Warmup
8 Music ensemble
10 To fieldhouse
10:10 Meal 4 and showers
11:30 Lights out


Today's Cooks
Carole, head cook
Jim J
Luba S
Bill S
Lisa M
Penny D
Jim K leaves today


Today's News
There's a new clock on the cooktruck. Looks just like the old clock, except that the hour hand works.

Everything is going well, except that it's still cloudy this morning. And cold. And windy. Cooks say, "We don't need that." They were preparing breakfast this morning with the doors still closed on the cooktruck to keep in some of the heat.


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

Today is Wednesday, May 27; it's a cornfield tour day

We are in Platteville, WI

Click for weather report and forecast


View May 27 in a larger map

Today's Menu
Breakfast
Loaded egg bake
Sausage links
Banana

Meal 2
Chicken pot pie
Tropical fruit
Chocolate chip cookies/butterscotch or chocolate pudding

Meal 3
Butt Chops (which have prompted quite the discussion this morning on Facebook)
Corn-noodle casserole
Fruit cocktail

Meal 4
Breadeaux Pizza (Carole brought)
Rice pudding


Today's Schedule
7:20 Wake
7:30 Breakfast
8 Staff meeting
8:30 Stretch at stadium (the cooks thought that was tentative - "Pretty damn steady rain here right now."
9 Vis
10 Guard to vis
12:30 Meal 2 for brass and percussion
12:45 Meal 2 for guard
1:35 Brass and percussion to vis
1:50 Guard sectionals
3 Sectionals
5:30 Travel (from stadium) to Meal 3
5:35 Meal 3
6:35 To stadium
6:45 Vis
7:30 Warmup
8 Music ensemble
10 To fieldhouse
10:10 Meal 4 and showers
11:30 Lights out


Today's Cooks
Carole, head cook
Jim J
Luba S
Bill S
Lisa M
Penny D
Jim K


Today's News
First words out of Bill's mouth when he called: "Quit sending us lousy weather. It's raining. Not good." So I guess I'm the one responsible for the rain. :(

Goal for today: March and play through - G stage ballad/impact. (We're open for anyone who wants to interpret this for the cooks)

The corps is doing well. The rain is getting a little old already, though. The cooks served snack between raindrops last night and it was raining pretty steadily just before breakfast this morning.


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

Supper Prep

Lisa and Carole prepare Italian Cheeseburger Bake for this evening's meal. We had a little rain at lunch time, but it's dry at the moment and we're getting settled in to tour mode. This is the place to be!

Today is Tuesday, May 26; it's a cornfield tour day

We are in Platteville, WI

Click for weather report and forecast


View May 26 in a larger map

Today's Menu
Breakfast
Biscuits and gravy
Peaches

Meal 2
Chicken sandwich
Green beans
Seasoned fries
Applesauce

Meal 3
Italian Cheeseburger Bake
Lettuce salad
Pears
Garlic toast

Meal 4
Pretzels with cheese
Snicker salad


Today's Schedule
7:20 a.m. Wake
7:30 Stretch
8 Breakfast
8:30 Staff meeting
9 Vis/guard sectionals
11:30 Percussion in vis
12:30 Brass as percussion meal 2
12:45 Guard meal 2
1:35 Vis
1:50 Guard sectionals
3 Sectionals
5:30 Travel to Meal 3
5:35 Meal 3
6:35 To Stadium
6:40 Vis
7:30 Warmup
8:15 Ensemble
10 To Fieldhouse
10:10 Snack and shower
11:30 Lights out



Today's Cooks
Carole, head cook
Jim J
Luba S
Bill S
Lisa M
Penny D
Jim K
Al B helps

Today's News
The corps arrive just about on time in Platteville for the start of cornfiled tour, after a spectacular performance on a spectacular day in Dubuque. High clouds with some sun breaking through are high temps in the high 60s provided a perfect day for a parade.

The corps actually looked to be having fun on the parade (not always their first reaction to parade marching) and the crowds in Dubuque were large and appreciative of the color and sound provided by the corps. The corps played the same music (with some minor cuts) that the Colts played in the inaugural parade in January.

The Colts played through their entire 2009 show "Fathoms" at the Memorial Day observance in Washington Park in Dubuque before going back to the Colts Center for a corps meeting and departure for Platteville.


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

Battery Warmup

The corps is now warming up for the Dubuque Memorial Day parade. They expect to step off around 1:45. It' a breezy day, partly cloudy and in the upper 70s.



This is the battery rehearsing in Jackson Park. We're off to Platteville this evening.

Jim Johnson

Today is Monday, May 25; it's Memorial Day

We are in Dubuque

Click for weather report and forecast


View May 25 in a larger map

Today's Menu
Breakfast
Egg bake
Muffins
Cereal

Meal 2
Ham or turkey sandwich
Chips
Snack bars
Veggies and dip

Meal 3
TBA

Meal 4
TBA


Today's Schedule
8:30 a.m. Wake/eat/pack/clean school
10:25 Load on buses and cars
10:30 Depart for Colts Center
11 Unload batter and tubas at Colts Center
11:30 Truck and pit to Washington Park and set up
11:30 Meal 2 and dress in half uniform
12:15 p.m. Brass, guard, and battery walk to Jackson Park. Kitchen truck departs to Platteville
12:30 Sectional warmups in park
1:15 Full ensemble in park
1:30 Parade begins (Colts are LAST, 1:45-2 p.m.)
2:45 (approx) Summer Premier Concert in park (Return to Colts Center after concert)
5:30 Full corps meeting in hall
6 Depart for Platteville
6:30 Arrive and completely unload buses
7 Meal 3
7:45-9:15 Sectionals outdoors
9:30 Vis indoors
10:30 Snack
11:30 Lights out


Today's News
Happy Birthday Connor G!

Great day for a parade!

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

day one.jpg

It's Day One, and breakfast is being served at this very moment!

Jim J

A shot from the road

Jim J sent this photo this morning.

And he said "I expect to see the board this clean when we get to Bloomington in August."

Today is Sunday, May 24; it's a Memorial Day camp day

We are in Dubuque

Click for weather report and forecast


View May2009 in a larger map

Today's Menu
Breakfast
French toast
Bacon
Cereal

Meal 2
Meatball subs
Mac and cheese
Fruit

Meal 3
Ham
Au gratin potatoes
Green bean casserole

Meal 4
Chicken nuggets
Broccoli rice
Must goes


Today's Schedule
(subject to change based on weather and progress!)
8 a.m. Wake/eat
9 Brass and perc on bus to UD (University of Dubuque); guard gym stretch; pit cafeteria
9:30 Brass and percussion stretch
10 Vis
12:30 p.m. Board meeting at Colts office
1 Meal 2 at UD
2 Vis; guard and pit sectionals at Roosevelt
5:30 Brass and percussion load to return to Roosevelt
6 Meal 3
7 Sectionals
8 Full ensemble outside
9 Sectionals inside
10:30 Load all percussion and tubas on truck; brass cases on truck empty; guard equipment on truck; load all possible personal items in buses or cars; keep your uniform parts and your uniform hanger with you and take on the bus.
11:15 Meal 4
12:15 a.m. Lights out

Today's News
Happy Birthday Donovan G!

Colts fans in Dubuque last night got a treat -- seeing a full corps doing an ensemble rehearsal at the gorgeous new football stadium at the University of Dubuque. Brass, percussion, and color guard were all working hard on the show opener on a great evening for watching drum corps. (But there are very few bad evenings for watching drum corps.)

Marching, playing, spinning. For the first day of tour. Go Red Team.

And thanks to the University of Dubuque for allowing the Colts to use the new facility. Great footing and a great setting.

Looks like the Colts cooks were out early this morning. Jim J sent in a picture of a clean cooktruck board. Thanks for the photo Jim, and the cleaning job. Lots of cleaning going on yesterday on the cooktruck. The volunteers washed and mopped the entire cooking area. They packed the freezer and cooler with food from the first food drop of the season. And there's a new exterior plywood floor in the utility area at the back of the trailer where the generator, hot water tank, and propane tanks sit. (That Greg Orwoll is a demon at ripping out stuff once you get him started!)

I can't start to list the names of all the people who are helping this weekend in Dubuque. I'd forget too many of them. We just shout THANKS to everyone who cooked, sewed, drove, cleaned, carried, cut, built, stacked, sweated, and did all the other tasks necessary to get the corps out on the road for the summer. And the meals were great. (Although I can't vouch for the Taco salad for Meal 2 on Saturday. The corps had eaten it all by the time I got to the stadium!)

Get out and see the 2009 Colts as soon and as often as you can. It is indeed a great year to be a Colt.

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

Today is Saturday, May 23; it's a Memorial Day camp day

We are in Dubuque

Click for weather report and forecast


View May2009 in a larger map

Today's Menu
Breakfast
Pancakes
Apples
Cereal

Meal 2
Taco salad
Corn
Peaches

Meal 3
Chicken
Mashed potatoes and gravy
Peas and carrots
Pudding parfait

Meal 4
BBQ pork
Ranch fries


Today's Schedule
8 a.m. Wake/eat
8:15 Caption head meeting
9 Volunteer meeting in cafeteria; brass and percussion on bus to University of Dubuque (UD); guard gym stretch; pit cafeteria
9:20 Brass and percussion unload at UD
9:30 Brass and percussion stretch
10 Visual rehearsal
12:30 p.m. Meal 2 (at UD for brass and percussion)
1:30 Visual for brass and percussion; guard and pit sectionals at Roosevelt
5 Brass and percussion load to return to Roosevelt
5:30 Meal 3. Staff eat first please
5:45 Full staff meeting
6:30 Depart for UD all sections; semi will go to UD with pit loaded
7:20 Unload at UD
7:30 Sectional warmup
7:50 Full ensemble in stadium
8:50 End ensemble
9 Load buses and truck; pit stay behind to finish loading
9:30 Rehearsal; brass in cafeteria; percussion in music rooms; guard gym
11 Meal 4
Midnight - Lights out


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

Today is Friday, May 22; it's a Memorial Day camp day

We are in Dubuque

Click for weather report and forecast

View May2009 in a larger map

Today's Menu

Meal 4

Hamburgers

Fruit

Today's Schedule

9 to 9:30 p.m. Unload/check in

10 p.m. Full corps meeting in cafeteria

10:15 Brass cafeteria, guard gym, pit hall, percussion band rooms

11 Snack

Midnight - Lights out

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

New cooktruck calendar posted

Bill has another revision of the cook/volunteer calendar posted. There are still opportunities for you to volunteer to help the Colts get down the road in 2009. Contact Bill at the email address listed in the right sidebar to reserve YOUR spot with the Colts!

The good thing about being a volunteer -- you don't have to audition!

Thanks to all who have already signed up to work this summer. It's a great year to be a Colt!

Pre-season camp report

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Lori sent in this great report from pre-season camp. Thanks, Lori! And thanks to all the volunteers who are already helping out.

Just thought I'd give an update on preseason camp.

Things seem to be going well with new kids coming in every day. It has been great weather to start the season. Let's hope this is a sign of good things to come!

The schedule for this week

Monday, May 18

7:00 pm Meeting/move into the armory and unload truck

8:00 pm Get equipment ready, drill numbers, measured for shoes, gloves, &warm-ups

10:00 pm Girls Shower/ 10:30pm Male Showers

11:00 pm Lights out

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, May 19-21

7:00 am Wake/Breakfast/clear the main floor

8:15 am Leave for rehearsal fields

8:45 am Percussion rehearsal, Guard stretch/run/condition

9:30 am Guard begins drill rehearsal

12:00 pm Lunch brought to fields

12;45 pm Rehearsal resumes

4:45 pm Depart for the Armory

5:30 pm Dinner

6:30 pm Guard rehearse on main floor, Percussion rehearse outside

9:00 pm Snack/ Male Showers

9:45 pm Female Showers

10:30 pm Lights out

Friday, May 22

7:00 am Wake/Breakfast/clear main floor

8:15 am Leave for rehearsal fields

8:45 am Percussion rehearsal, Guard stretch/run/condition

9:30 am Guard begins drill rehearsal

12:00 pm Lunch brought to fields

1245 pm Rehearsals resume

3:15 pm Depart for the Armory

3:45 pm Pack/Clean/Prepare for laundry

4:30 pm Dinner

5:00 pm Leave Armory for laundry

7:45pm Pickup at laundry to return to Armory

8:30pm Check into Memorial Day Camp

Menus have been

Tuesday

Breakfast - Eggbake/sausage/cereal

Lunch - Pork sandwich/chips/fruit cocktail/granola bar

Dinner - Grilled chicken/scalloped potatoes/mixed/veggies

Snack - Pretzels and cheese

Wednesday

Breakfast - Waffles/cereal

Lunch - Ham sandwiches/ pasta&potato salad/ veggies and dip

Dinner - Spaghetti/Lettuce salad/corn/breadsticks

Snack - Corndogs

Thursday

Breakfast - Bagels/cereal

Lunch - Chicken sandwich/chips/peaches/granola bars

Dinner - Salisbury steak/mashed potaoes/gravy/veggies

Snack - Nachos/cheese donated floats

Friday

Breakfast - Eggwraps/muffins/cereal

Lunch - Hotdogs/chips/salad

Dinner - Must goes

Judy H and Stacy W have been taking care of breakfast and lunch with the help of the brass members and staff.

Judy and Stacy have had some extra help in the evenings for dinner and the snack from Tammy M, Peggy F, and Lori. Kim and Kelly D have came into help for a couple of days also.

Pictures from the Armory

The lone cook! She was a very busy lady tonight!

Colts Moving into the Armory

HI All!

I just got back from a visit to the Armory here in Dubuque - I'll be sending you some pictures. We had about 10 kids come into town yesterday and about 20+ today. The lone cook was working away in the kitchen making hot pretzels for snack. I have to tell you all that I just got so excited to hear the drums in the parking lot that you just know summer is here! See you all soon!

Tami

Testing, testing

The more sharp-eyed among you may see some unusual activity over the next couple of days on the Ol' Virtual Cooktruck. Testing out some new features (which we may not use) and putting together our templates, maps, and weather reports for tour.

(We take requests for the weather reports, but -- like the real weather service -- we give no guarantees.)

So if unusual posts seem to come and go, pay them no mind. It's just housecleaning week at the virtual cooktruck.

Your hardworking, dedicated, and silly staff

New cooktruck calendar posted

I have posted an updated Cook Calendar for you to view. Thanks to all that have contacted me and signed up to help out on the 2009 Colts' summer tour.

Because of your volunteering we have a large part of tour with good coverage. But, as always, there are a couple of points where we can really use your help:

• Monday, May 18 to Friday, May 22 - pre-season workshop at the Armory in Dubuque;


• Saturday, June 6 thru Saturday, June 13 - this is a fun week of Cornfield close to Dubuque and the best part is great shows at Belmont and Platteville;


• Saturday, July 4 thru Saturday, July 11 - Need Head Cook;


• Sunday, July 12 to Friday, July 18;


• Saturday, August 1 to Wednesday, August 5 - Need Head Cook and a couple of more people.

See you at Memorial Day camp.

Bill

Cooktruck on Facebook

Tami R has created a Facebook group called "Colts Virtual Cooktruck." If you are on Facebook, it's another way to keep up with what's going on with the Colts this summer.

To see more details and confirm this group invitation, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?group.php&gid=182965495250&mid=6ded60G25ba912eG1a6fe0bG6

(The title of this post is also a link to the group invite.)

Please send the link to anyone you think might be interested. Let's see how many people we can get to join!

And a really BIG thanks to Tami who is taking care of the Facebook group for us. Thanks Tami for dragging us out of 2005 -- when people thought having a blog was COOL!

Thank you, thank you, thank you

Thanks to the volunteers at last week's camp for all of your hard work. From the work on the uniforms; to the flag crew; to all of the meals served to the members; to the kitchen truck crew that painted, cleaned, repaired and scrubbed - it was a very successful weekend. Without you, the corps wouldn't get ON the road, let alone down the road all summer.

Also, the updated Cook Calendar 2009 is on the right under Links. My largest appreciation is to the parents that have signed up for touring on the Cooktruck.

If you want to tour, find the days when we're short (F means we're full) and then contact me.

And another one

Lisa P has another link to debut camp pictures. Thanks, Lisa.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2069422&id=66800029&l=dc2a765bcd