What are the odds of that?

Seasons Greetings,

I hope everyone is enjoying their holidays! Since I have some time to kill here in the terminal, I’m going to share an experience I had when I flew to Indiana to enjoy time with family and friends.

While waiting for my plane to Indiana at BWI, I took a short nap because I got there entirely too early due to thinking there would be children everywhere as well as tons of holiday traveling. I was majorly wrong. I zipped right through security in 5 minutes and sat there for a couple hours. In that time, after my lovely little nap, I wake up to see someone in a tie-dyeish hoodie walk by. She sits right across from me, and what do I see? LETTERS!!! When I talk about letters I am referring to the Honorary Band Service Fraternity I’m in, Kappa Kappa Psi. She is a brother at Indiana University and is heading back to school. She lives my life, but opposite. She flies home (to Cockeysville, MD) for the holidays then flies back to school (Bloomington, IN [Indiana U.]) for the semester. So, I immediately stood up, nonchalantly walked to the restroom then came back to sit right next to her. I introduced myself, as did she and from then on we didn’t stop talking. We didn’t stop talking until arriving at baggage claim in the Indy Airport. I found out that she grew up with Alec Leventis, Laura Hunter and.... *drum roll* TJ! She was a senior in the Dulaney Marching Band when TJ came in as a Freshman! This is an incredibly small world.She marched with "The Indiana University Marching Hundred" in the low brass section. Needless to say, that was one of the best plane rides I’ve EVER had! What are the odds of that happening again? Hopefully good because I had a blast. Enough from me, it’s time to enjoy the coming of a new year!!!

Happy New Year!!!

P.S. – if you didn’t get to see the video I posted on my Facebook about 2011 in review, you should. Here is the link Zeitgeist 2011: Year in Review.

New Traditions have to start somewhere

For the past 21 years, I have enjoyed the company of my biological family back home in Indiana. This year, I’m trying something new. I’ll be waking up on Christmas morning to a new family. After 4 years of being with TJ and living together here on the east coast, I have decided to stay out here with his family. So, what better way to start the holiday than make my very first Gingerbread Train with TJ, Tilghman and TJ’s mother Glenda. TJ and Tilghman ended up going into the den and watching a movie while Glenda and I finished up the Train. It’s my first so don’t make fun but check out how it turned out.

 

Cute huh? I hope to update more on the new Christmas traditions. =)

I forgot to mention that I will still be flying home from the 26th through the 31st to enjoy a week with my family and Friends back home.

Happy Holidays!!!

Giving My Thanks

First off, IT’S THANKSGIVING! Where did the time go? Second, what is your favorite part of Thanksgiving? Mine is totally the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! To start with things that I’m thankful for (I’ll sure sure to try not to bore you)…

Family
My mother and father for putting up with my music/wants/have to dos for 21 years!
My mother has always been there to cry to, laugh with and argue with. She's been one of my best friends from far away that I can run to with literally any question or comments. Thank you mom. You don't know half of how much I appreciate you.
My grandmother for always calling and wanting to chit chat. She calls at least once to twice a day, but I’m thankful for it because before I know it, I won’t have the opportunity to hear from her everyday.

Joining the Sanders family back in 2008 has been a great addition to my life! Lots of love, laughter and pure joy. All the credit to that goes straight to my boyfriend TJ! Thank you TJ for bringing me into this humongous family!!

Friends
Andrew Camden - Thank you! You have made me laugh at literally everything! You have also frustrated me more than anything on rare occasion but with our past, we both have grown up immensely! You have a been a wonderful friend. Thank you Andy!
From everyone I’ve ever met throughout my time in high school at Crawfordsville, at Indiana State University or here at Towson University, thank you for always being there! Everyone from both ISU and TU’s music department, thank you for giving me an absolutely amazing education and helping me grow emotionally, mentally and also physically!
Along the lines of music, being in a fraternity full of brothers that I have come to absolutely love and trust with all my heart I can’t be more thankful of. Starting in Spring of 2009 when I first joined Lambda Lambda at ISU, the brotherhood helped me grow in more ways than I could imagine. Moving to Maryland, I transferred from Lambda Lambda to Iota Delta here at Towson and continue to adore my brothers. Thank you, brothers, for everything you do!!!!

Marching Band

I am insanely thankful for joining two of the biggest families I would ever belong to. Being a part of the Indiana State University Marching Sycamores as well as the Towson University Marching Tigers has presented amazing opportunities of growth and also brought me passions I never thought I’d ever find without these two vehicles. Thank you to Dr. Doug Keiser (past ISU Athletic Bands Director) as well as Mr. John Miliauskas (Towson Marching Band Director) for presenting these opportunities to me and letting me grow through my passion.
Job
Thank you to Teresa Kastner for hiring me at the flower shop and giving me the opportunity to travel all over Baltimore to different venues which also helped me reach out to meet new people all over. I’m very thankful for having a job in this very tough economy. It’s great to have an income!

Health
I’m crazy happy to be healthy. No diseases, viruses, broken bones or any illness. =)

Side note: I wrote this whole blog while watching the 85th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, so I apologize for any grammatical issues.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Towson Tigers CAA Champs!

For those who haven’t heard, the Towson University Tiger Football Team brought home their first ever CAA (Colonial Athletics Association) Conference win! In the words of Tiger Head Coach Rob Ambrose
“It feels damn good to be a Tiger!”

After transferring to Towson 2 years ago, I heard bad things about the football team. Coming from Indiana State, I was quite used to it. ISU won probably 3 games in the two seasons I was there. My first year at Towson (‘10), they win 1 out of 11 games ending the season at 1-10. ISU did pretty well in ‘10 season with a 6-5 season. My second season with Towson, ISU and TU both are doing GREAT! ISU ends at 6-5 again and Towson ends at 9-2. Now, we keep on pushing! We will be facing Lehigh University on December 3rd here at Johnny Unitas Stadium on our home field! Speaking for the marching band, we will be there in full force cheering on the team!

Be sure to print out your NCAA FCS Bracket and follow along!!!

Wrapping up, if you’re around Baltimore, Maryland on Saturday December 3rd at around 3:30 PM, you’re face needs to make an appearance at Johnny Unitas Stadium on Towsons Campus!!!

BRING IT ON LEHIGH!!!

Credit: Kanji Takeno

It’s all in a days work

If you have ever wondered what a member of the Towson University Marching Band does on game days, I’m going to give you a glimpse of what happens.

To sum up what happens on game days for marching band members, I’ll use my game day schedule as an example:

Saturday September 3rd, 2011 (Towson Tigers vs. Morgan State Bears)
8:45AM – Wake up/Shower/Prep for the day
9:45AM – Meet with other drum majors for breakfast at Dunkin Donuts
10:45AM – Arrive at Johnny Unitas Stadium to set up rehearsal
12:00 PM – Rehearsal begins - Inside JOHNNY UNITAS STADIUM
3:15ish – End rehearsal, begin Pregame Cookout and Change into uniforms
4:45 PM – Uniform Etiquette and Uniform Inspection.
5:45 PM – Line up for Pregame in parking lot. Parade line up to stadium
6:10 PM – Parade begins. Start with performance at the alumni pregame cookout
6:50 PM – Pre-game performance
7:07 PM – Kickoff, Towson TIGERS vs. Morgan State
10:00ish – Game ends (Tigers 42, Bears 3)
10:20ish – Post game performance
11:30PM – Finish cleaning up
12:00PM – GO TO SLEEP!

Needless to say, we work pretty dang hard!

For those who were there at the game yesterday and watched us perform, sorry we didn’t have a full show to put on the field. Blame it on Hurricane Irene. This next week when we take on Villanova Wildcats, we’ll have a show to perform for you.

Hope to see you Saturday Sept. 10th @7PM @Johnny Unitas Stadium!