It Must Be Bunnies

My friends and I purchased tickets for "Us" because we all liked "Get Out" and wanted to see Jordan Peele's next scary project.  I brought pink Gloomy Bear.  Cindy brought the bunny Pancake, not realizing that there would be rabbits in the movie.  She thought a woman wearing a "pancakes, pancakes, pancakes" shirt was wearing it for the bunny, but it turns out that the woman just likes iHop.  Get it? Hop!  I might be losing my mind a bit.  BTW, this is going to be very spoiler-y, so stop reading if you don't want any.  Maybe go read one of my Rockapella reports, why don't ya?

• I thought maybe they were going to see vampires in Santa Cruz in 1986.  Maybe that's what they were filming, because that came out in 1987.
• "I'll meet you in the magic room."
• "Hide a Key?!  Of all the white people..."
• "Nobody wants the boat, Dad."
• "Why don't you ask Josh and Kitty?  They're RIGHT HERE!"
• You know those people downstairs would have never known that there was light, so why would they be jealous of the people upstairs?  CLUE!
• "Ophelia, call the police."  I love the song she actually played!  I need to go listen to my NWA CD.  I thought I was going to do that after I saw "Straight Outta Compton", but I never did.
• I love Jason's taste: he wears a JAWS shirt and a Chewbacca mask.
• "I have two kills, because I killed me and I killed Josh."
• I was like, "How did she know there was a door there?"  CLUE!
• I'm going to have a hard time seeing Lupita's face for a while.  Even when I went to the website to get the link, I couldn't look at her because I was creeped out.
• The score did its job of keeping me scared, including the whistling of "Itsy Bitsy Spider".  

I enjoyed this movie.  I might see it again to see all of the clues that I missed, but it will not be in the theater.  It's too dark in there.

Thanks for protecting me, Gloomy Bear!

WCon 2018

WonderCon 2018

Anaheim Convention Center

March 23-25, 2018

Friday, March 23: Day 1

I left work early to drive down to Anaheim to attend the first day.  Now that I have a few cons under my belt, I strategize for each day based on whatever special events or panels are planned during the weekend.  Fridays for me are the art shopping days: days when I visit the booths of the artists I follow on Instagram to obtain whatever I've had my eye on, or exclusives offered just for the weekend.  I also like to tell them that I appreciate their work, and sometimes have a question for them, although I don't know much about the art except that I really like it so I don't have much to say other than "I love your work".

Yes, I bought more than this.

Pictured, counter-clockwise from the tippy top:  Buffy the Vampire Slayer full TV series score + film score from the motion picture, from La-La Land Records; Black Panther "On the Prowl" by Maurice Abril; Buffy / Hamilton "Slay" by Karen Hallion; The Evolution of Luke Skywalker by Jeff Victor; Coco 25 cent wonder by Patrick Ballesteros; "The Little Wonderful Woman" Golden Book by Joey Spiotto; Rice Cooker pin by Genevieve Santos; Captain EO by Jeff Pina.

I saw on Twitter that tickets would be distributed for a sneak screening of "A Quiet Place" at three times: 3:30, 4:30, and 5:30.  I didn't know how this would work, but made sure to get in line at about 2:30 when I saw there was already a long one forming.  We were moved to the regular queue area, and people around me were receiving different information from different sources, so I decided to just wait to see what they would tell us at 3:30.  The only thing I found out that was definite was that the movie would be shown at the AMC Theater in Downtown Disney.  When the line started to move, I think they distributed 75 tickets, including a limit of 2 per each person in line.  This might have been fine if the people telling people they couldn't sit down were watching people cutting the line instead.  The not-sitting-down policy was ridiculous because we weren't in an aisle where anything else was going on, and we were all waiting for at least an hour, and there was plenty of space for our entire line to sit down.  Also, they didn't enforce it for everyone the entire time).  I was about 20 people from the front for the second wave at 4:30.  Luckily for me, I had chatted with the gal next to me and she agreed to save my place in line while I used the facilities.  Thank you!   I even made sure the guy in back of me would also vouch for me just so I had my bases covered.  At the 4:30 distribution, I got my wristband, and I happily went on my way to finish my last purchases of the day.  One of the last purchases?  Cupcakes from my favorite cupcake truck:  My Delight!

Clockwise from top:
Carrot cake; peanut butter;
snickerdoodle; breakfast (my fave!)

Happiness in hand, I walked back to my car to drop off my goodies, eat one of the cupcakes, and take the shuttle to the resort.  I'm glad I did that, because bag check would have been a pain.

When I got to the theater at about 6:00, there were already several people in line.  I was told that they over-distributed in case some people just picked up 2 wristbands for the heck of it and didn't actually show up.  So if everyone got in line, the last 30 people in line would not be able to see the movie.  I arrived early enough to get in, and we were given vouchers for free popcorn and a drink.  Nice!  I sat in front of some reserved seating for Paramount folks, but I didn't recognize any of them, and they didn't do anything special but take up seats that other people at the Con could have sat.  We were instructed not to film and that they had infrared technology to catch folks filming and whomever was caught filming would be kicked out.  The usher guard people stood watching the audience for the whole movie.  At least, they stood there.  I was too engrossed in the movie to see if they were watching us.  My thoughts about the movie will be in a separate post.

Afterward, I walked back to the shuttle pickup area, trying to walk as quickly as possible so I could miss the post-fireworks crowd.  Success!  I had a good sleep when I finally got home.  My legs were worn out after the day of standing and walking.

Saturday, May 24: Day 2

I arrived prior to opening time on Saturday, and when I got in line, I realized I was behind someone cosplaying as Sadness from "Inside Out".  I told her that she was my favorite character, but she didn't seem very chatty (she IS Sadness, after all), so I didn't have the nerve to ask to get a picture with her.  She looked perfect, though!  

Saturday is my day to attend panels and check out stuff that I missed on Friday.  I only had one panel that was a must on my list, so I mostly walked around the different booths.  Joey, one of the artists I talked to the previous day, tweeted that a figurine of his work was on sale at the Loot Crate booth, so I walked over there and purchased it.  The gal who sold it to me said that the artist would sign it.  She was right!

Joey Spiotti and the figurine of his Buffy piece
Love Spike with the blanket!

There was a droid-building club, because, of course!

Chopper between R2s

Shiny R2

I'm calling him Boba Fett R2

They're everywhere!

WALL-E rolled up to me and said "EVE"
I told him I wasn't Eve, I'm Sherry.

I had a little bit of time before lining up for the panel, and got in the line to meet the cover artist of this year's program, Dan Jurgens.  I love his drawing of Superman, which he had in print form to purchase, but since he was already signing my program, I figured I would get a different piece.  He graciously agreed to pose for a picture.

Mr. Jurgens with the print I bought

I wasn't able to get the signatures of the inker and colorist of the program because they all had to go to a panel, and I wasn't going to that one.

Instead, I queued up for the Warner Bros panel for "Ready Player One".  We didn't see much more than a trailer and very little behind the scenes statements from Spielberg and others.  They really didn't want to give much away, but the visuals looked outstanding!

The panel was author of the book Ernest Cline, screenwriter Zak Penn, and cast members Ben Mendelsohn (Sorrento), Tye Sheridan (Parzival), Olivia Cooke (Art3mis), Lena Waithe (Aech), Philip Zhao (Sho), and Win Morisaki (Daito).  

Full panel

 Ernest Cline

Zhao and Morisaki

Waithe and Mendelsohn

Sheridan, Cooke and Waithe

Cline and Penn

Highlights:

• Question: What is your favorite video game?
• OC: I don't play video games.  Does Tamagotchi count?
• Q: What was your first direction by Steven Spielberg?
• TS: He wanted me to walk like John Travolta in "Saturday Night Fever".  When he asked me to walk, he turned on "Stayin' Alive" (TS bops his head back and forth), struts over to me with the phone, and says, "Like that."
• Q: I heard that a lot of celebrity visitors came to the set.
• ZP told a story about George Lucas coming to the set with his daughter and showing her all of the digital cameras.  GL said to Steven, "I thought you were never going to film anything in digital?"  Steven:  "George, that ended a long time ago, and you still keep asking that question!"
• OC talked about Tom Cruise visiting the set the day she had was dressed in the bodysuit with the ping pong balls for the CGI, and she wanted to hide from Tom because of what she was wearing, and she was sweating because they had just done a take. But Steven said, "Olivia, come on over and meet Tom Cruise!"  
• OC talked about the fact that LW's character is very tall, and she and TS kept forgetting not to look in her eyes, but to look up at the ball hanging above her.  LW:  "I was telling them, you're staring at my chest!"
• Ben Mendelsohn is hilarious and said that he agreed to be a villain again because they pay him extra money to do so.
• WM had an interpreter with him, and when the moderator was asking the video game question, he asked him to answer, too.  Win speaks English well, though.
• This was Philip Zhao's first film.
• EC said that he was starstruck for the first several times he spoke to Spielberg about the film, and geeked out about everything he said.
• Q:  I need to know: with this movie using different elements of Spielberg's other films, did he ever say, "Well, when we were doing 'JAWS', this happened?"
• ALL:  YES!!!

I'm sure I"m forgetting a bunch of stuff, but that was a fun panel.  I do remember that they were all asked about their favorite Spielberg movie, but I can't remember the answers.  Oh, yeah, OC likes "Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom".  Another person said, "Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade".  I know there were other movies mentioned that had nothing to do with Indy.

I wanted to get a couple of con-exclusive comic books, so I did that before meeting up with Dodie and her friends.  We walked around and they talked to people they knew at the different booths.  One of them used to work with an artist whose work is up above, and the other is friends with the guys from La-La Land Records, so that's cool.   This walk-around time gave me more time to look at the cosplay around us.   

Two Doctors!

As we were leaving, I saw this, and pointed it out to my companions.  We tried to catch up and guessed who it was:  Lego Wicked Witch?  Lego Gandalf?  Lego Tin Man? 

All we knew for sure was LEGO.

Then LEGO cosplayer caught up with his friend, and we got our answer.

LEGO Gimli and LEGO Gandalf

Dodie and friends had dinner reservations at Tortilla Jo's and invited me to join them, so I drove us all  to Downtown Disney.  We walked around afterward and somehow I refrained from buying more art at Wonderground.  Dodie's friend loves Disneyland popcorn, but doesn't have a pass, so Dodie and I went into the Park to get her a souvenir tub and popcorn. 

 I love being able to just go in for 10 minutes
 for necessities!

I said goodbye to my companions and went home.  Here is some of what I bought on Saturday.

Not a big art day, but still some.

Pictured, clockwise from top right:  Buffy figurine by Joey Spiotti froom Loot Crate; Gloomy Bear plush; WonderCon program; Superman #150 by Dan Jurgens; Unicorn heart pin and Mermaid art by Faheema from Unicorn Crafts; Supergirl #19 variant; Ariel and Eric wedding Funko Pop.

I didn't attend the Sunday of the Con because I needed to be elsewhere.  I'm glad my heart wasn't set on the panels I had planned, but I was still sorry to miss the last day.

Next up on the Con Agenda:  Whedon Con

PusherPix 03/29/16

PusherPix

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

On Instagram today, my new Gloomy Bear pin as photographed by the artist from night cake press:

There once was a bear with claws... Rilakglooma / Edition of 100. Available now. #nightcakepress #pingame #patchgame

A photo posted by Limited run. Super fun! (@nightcakepress) on Mar 29, 2016 at 4:11pm PDT

PusherPix 03/27/16

PusherPix

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Some of my spoils from WonderCon 20¹6

PusherPix 03/01/16

PusherPix

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

The most recent Gloomy acquisition.  Vampire Bat Gloomy Bear!

Gloomy vs. Glass

The final movie of our Best Picture Showcase was "The Revenant".  Linda was not looking forward to it.  I was OK with seeing it, knowing that I'd be rooting for Gloomy Bear.  Yeah, I'm crazy like that.

• Lesson One in bear encounters:  play dead.  Why are you still moving and shooting your gun?  She's protecting her cubs' they would have left eventually.
• I was starting to think that Powaqa didn't exist, because they didn't show her until way late in the movie.
• I miss the days when we could use our imaginations and not actually see the gross stuff.  Like, do I have to see the horse's stomach?  Do I have to see those sores that many times?  Do I have to see the scalped head?  Just ew.
• Speaking of the horse.  Horse = Tauntaun.  Both of us thought of that.  Linda refrained from saying aloud, "I thought they smelled bad on the outside."
• More Star Wars stuff happened, like hands being chopped off.  Just not as gross.
• I've decided that I don't actually know what Tom Hardy looks like, because I never know that he's the person portraying characters until I see the credits.
• Half the time, I couldn't understand what the heck Fitzgerald was saying because his accent was really thick.
• They said the "F" word back then?
• Hux!  I mean, um, Domhnall Gleeson!  Again!  This is the second movie today in which we saw him.  Dude's all over the place.  
• Lots of scenes reminded me of "The Good Dinosaur": the scenery, the needing to get home, the folks that stopped him from getting there...but I miss the Dino Cowboys.
• "Revenge is in God's hands.  Not mine."

Good movie.  Linda actually thought that much of it was beautiful, so I guess it won her over a bit.  I don't want to see it again because of the gross, but it was a good movie.

That's A Wrap

DCI Finals

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Lucas Oil Stadium

Indianapolis, IN

We woke up early to participate in the Street Beat 5K, which began across the street from out hotel.  Cool.  No walking 1K from the parking lot to get to the 5K!  I asked someone to take a picture of us, and then V saw someone that she knew from a club at Cal, also a drum corps fan.  Dave introduced us to his friend Samir, and we were on our way.  The route was along the canal route, and it was very pretty.  My companions were walking at a nice, quick pace, so I didn't get a lot of shots on the camera.  The important part is that we were not last, and we finished.  I jogged the last part so that I would be at 55:20 minutes.  Eh, I need to be faster, but that's OK.  The event was so quaint as compared to other events I've attended.  They had water and bananas for us at the end of the race.  I'm used to big sponsored events that have bagels and a bunch of people giving samples of their race goods.  I wonder if they'll continue doing this.  I was hoping that we'd have some drummers along the route, but perhaps that would have been too loud on a Saturday morning when we're passing by hotels and residences.  Besides, I'm pretty sure that the drummers were still asleep, or getting ready for Drumline Battle or Finals.  As I was trying to take a picture of the Start sign, the wind started to blow it away and it almost fell down.  I swear, I was just standing there.

Street Beat Race Shirt

After our post-race showers and my annual SCV-izing of my toes (Scheherazade-ish, naturally), we walked to Drumline Battle, which took place on Georgia Street and Pan Am Plaza.  Last year, the battle was only at a congested area on Georgia Street, and we didn't watch because it was too crowded.  This year, though, there was much more space for spectators.  We checked out the area, and I tried to take a picture of the Drumline Battle sign, and the wind blew it around a little bit.  We hadn't had any breakfast, and we were hungry, so we perused the food trucks.  We decided on Da Blue Lagoon, which served Jamaican food.  I ordered a vegetarian meal, which was vegetables cooked in butter and herbs, red beans and rice, and fried plantains.  Mmmm....plantains!  I enjoyed the red beans and rice, and the veggies were OK, but I would have preferred less cabbage and more broccoli.  While we were waiting for our food, one of their frames fell down, breaking the glass in it.  We were just standing there.  I didn't do anything!   Having an issue with 3 signs now, I was afraid to stand anywhere near another one for the rest of the day.  Then, at the end of lunch, I knocked over my water bottle and got V's pants wet.  Sorry!  I don't know what was wrong with me.

V adoring her little tree at lunch

Drumline Battle was fun.  We watched the International and World competitions:  Medellin Gran Banda vs. McMaster University; Patria vs. St. Mary's Drumline; Medellin vs. Patria; Jersey Surf vs. Oregon Crusaders; and The Academy vs. The Colts.  I wasn't too keen on Medellin because they had salsa dancers.  This isn't a dance competition.  Whatevs.  O Cru had their mascot, a bear named Little Mike, and it would say "Kill The Bear".  Yeah, it's a demented talking bear.  He must hang in the same circles as Gloomy.  Or they're in rival gangs.  The Academy had a big Knight chess piece as their mascot.  Jersey Surf wore beach wear and one guy had on a kids' inner tube around his waist.  Oregon Crusaders won the whole competition, which makes me happy, not just because of the bear, but also because their style was more traditional than the others.  Bro and I had thought that the competition was rigged because a lot of the judging had to do with audience applause, but I didn't always hear what they heard.   

Oregon Crusaders Drumline & Little Mike

I wanted to try a cupcake from The Flying Cupcake truck, because they were voted Indy's Best Cupcake.  V and I decided to split a Salted Chocolate Caramel cupcake.  V said that it would go good with coffee, so we went to Bee's and I ordered a Salted Caramel latte.  We realized after we got our drinks that we forgot to order decaf.  OK, so we would be hyper soon.  We may have needed a pick-me-up after getting up for the 5K.  The cupcake was tasty, and the icing was yummy.  The coffee was good, too.  (My Delight still wins, though).  Bro did some research and found out that Crossmen received a penalty last night for rehearsing in the wrong place.  They were so far ahead of the Colts that the one-point penalty did not hurt them.

We chillaxed in the hotel for a couple of hours before our last walk to Lucas Oil for the year.  It was much more crowded in the marketplace today due to people being in line in the main walkway as well as a recycling bin in the middle of the path.  We were still able to get our Zade pictures in at the SCV booth, though.

Thumb Up, Bro

V on Pillows

Do you notice that a picture is missing? Grrrrr....  Bro: you totally owe me a set of Scheherazade pillows to make up for not actually taking my picture.  I think they would look lovely in my living room.

Our seats were in Section 242, Row 6, Seats 8-10, which were on the left 25-yard line, 2 rows up from the glass.  We were centered in our row, and didn't have to get stressed out about the people trying to go up the stairs and blocking views during the shows because they weren't in front of us.  They were still in our field of vision, though.  We were sitting in the SCV block.

THE COMMANDANT'S OWN: U.S. MARINE DRUM & BUGLE CORPS

Oh, how I've missed them!  I'm so glad that they're back and doing their thing.

2014 Music in Motion:

• You Can't Stop the Beat from "Hairspray"
• Xylophonium based on music from "Ragtime" -- Kazoos!
• Birth of a Drum Corps -- original music, includes "My Country 'Tis of Thee"
• The Magnificent Seven -- including the horse's whinny
• Rock this Town -- the cameraman was dancing a little
• Stars and Stripes Forever

They then played the Star-spangled Banner and asked us to sing along.  I'm so glad that they're back!  The national march and anthem played by the USMC are 2 of my favorite traditions from Finals Night, and I've missed them.

IN-Pact played Europe's "The Final Countdown", and then Al Chez joined them to play Pharell's "Happy".  I didn't realize that he was no longer on Letterman's show.

The World Class Director of the Year was announced:  David Glasgow of Bluecoats.  Steve Rondinaro said to the crowd, "Come on, you can "Bloo" better than that!"

Open Class Champions Blue Devils B played in exhibition.  They're tired: lots of drops by the CG.

The sponsors were recognized.

Then Steve introduced "The voice of Finals: Brandt Crocker!"  Yeah, why wouldn't you let him announce your corps?  That's like telling Vin Scully that he doesn't need to announce for the Dodgers.  Dummies.

Let's go, drum corps finalists!

XMEN
Wait.  Now they have 2 tents. I thought they only had one yesterday.  I feel like we grew up withe their show because we saw it at the beginning of the season.  So my theory is that if you tour out West, you do well.  Bro was thinking the same things (sibling mind meld), and said that it's because you have to compete with BD & SCV and it brings you up a level.  Very nice solos.  Go, XMen, GO!

XMen with Tents

Bro said that staff should just have reserved seats so as not to cause issues between corps shows with the fire hazard crowding.  But where do we put these seats?  V said in the front so that they know not to build a stage where the 1st few rows can't even see the field.

MADISON
That note is high, man.  I like how the euphoniums are tipping their hats while moving their feet.

Madison Soloist at End

BO CRU
The DM stands have "All animals are equal" and "But some are more equal than others" written on them in the Chik-Fil-A "Eat More Chikin" font.  The DM had a container of baby powder on his stand, and he moved it over, with a big smile (and probably a wink) to the audience.  This was in reference to the penalty Bo Cru received last year for using baby powder in their pre-show.  I have come to really like this show a lot.  I didn't notice their "B A C" formation near the beginning of the show.  At least everyone caught their instruments today when they threw them up.  Someone dropped theirs at prelims.  The injured contrabass player did not play due to a torn ACL.  I'm bummed for him.  That was really sad yesterday.  But they did him proud!  Their FB page states that they used new flags in their closer, but I didn't notice.

One of Many Windmills

BLUE *
Great CG work.  Throw the saber, tumble onto the couch, catch the saber, and lay your head down on the gal's lap.  Nice.  Ohh...the tarps are the outline of the rooms!  

Paint Sample Flags

Everyone thinks it's intermission because a blue corps finished.  Including me.  Nope.

PHREGIMENT
Ah, trickery.  The girl gets covered in black and hides behind the bass drum, while another girl dressed in white comes out from behind the screens.  Way to go, Phantomettes!  Their horn section needs stronger low brass, though.  I think that's what's missing for me. OK, those last 2 in white are in heaven and they're reunited there like in the original ballet.  So that's two deaths in their show this year.  So cheery.

Odette and Prince in Heavenly Ghost Form

BK
I still don't like that she talks, but their music is beautiful.  I like the themes in the music, really pretty.  I don't remember some of those flags.  APPARENTLY, they were there at prelims.  Just checked the live blog from Finals night:  the narration is from "American Beauty", Kevin Spacey's soliloquy.

Blue Knights Pendulum

<Intermission - the real one>
Me to V:  "Go, go , GO!!!"  

CAVALIERS
Their show tonight was dedicated to honorary Cavalier and Hall of Famer, Len Piekarsky, their former visual instructor and designer,  "Now Somewhere Over the Rainbow".  And now we're tearing up.  I never noticed that they have the snares on their knees at the start of the ballad. They have a lot of fun during "Danse Macabre".  I like the way the hats look when they turn their heads from left to right.  Their last formation looks like an eyeball.

Rib Flags with Heart

CROWN
V can't believe they call themselves a band.  (Last year, their hashtag was #purplepantsband, and this year, #spacepantsband).  Yeah, why not "#spacepantscorps"?  Words cannot express how completely disinterested I am in those trampolines, to the point that I didn't realize the trumpet soloists were there until today.  I like the weightlessness section: lifting CG members, tossing instruments, and the sounds that the horns make that are space-y.  (Not Kevin Spacey, though.  That's Blue Knights).  V likes their sad music.  APPARENTLY, one of the snare drummers dropped his drum, and the judge kindly picked it up for him.  I missed that, probably because it was on the other side of the field.

SCV
Did my job and screamed Justin's name a couple of times.  Bro wondered if Justin's parents were there, and asking themselves whom I was.  I wouldn't know.  I've never met him.  I'm just happy for my friend's daughter's ex-boyfriend's brother.  D.R.U.M.S.!!!!!!!  Extra grace note in the solo = Sher's tears begin.  Got to yell "...GUARD!!!"  Thank you, SCV, for this gorgeous show.  Sigh.

Kneel Before Zade

BLOO
I think people think that they're actually playing that electronic part at that moment, so they stand, but they even hold the horns away from their mouths, so how do people miss that?  It is cool, but I wouldn't stand for electronics in a drum corps show.  What the hell is wrong with these people?  I do like their REAL music, though.  Soprano soloist almost didn't reach the high note and shook their head when he/she made it.  Phew!

Jumping at a Tilt

CADETS
That brass ensemble opener:  WOW.  "That is what he said."  There is just way too much talking.  Uh-oh: a CG member dropped her flag.  V thought the speaker was also a CG member, but no, that was someone who looks like him.  She's disappointed that the speaker is only there to talk.

BD
Oops.  That guy didn't catch the rifle during the high toss.  Very nice unison with the "The End" flags.  There's a lot of hair dancing in this show.  V really likes their ribbons.  She thinks there need to be more ribbons in drum corps.   Incredible job, BD.

Horns Taken Aback by Tambourine Girls

We were shown a video from the CBS Evening News (showing on Finals night) of 16-year old Brandon from Tucson, AZ, whom is the youngest snare drummer on the BD drumline.  He first played for ScoJo at age 11, and ScoJo was very impressed, but didn't think he could handle it yet, due to the athleticism that the sport demands.  This year, he beat out 100 other snare drummers for his spot, and is "Living his dream, one beat at a time."  Bro had told me about this kid when he was younger because he had watched YouTube videos of him.  Brandon has always wanted to march with the Blue Devils, and he is doing it well, even with his diagnosis of scolios.  He is amazing.

Retreat

The medal winners from Open Class were recognized:
Bronze:  Genesis
Silver: Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets
Gold: Blue Devils B

The Commandant's Own played while the corps marched onto the field.

USMC Drum & Bugle Corps

• Crossmen CG had their carpets, and the corps formed the Spirit of Atlanta delta.  (They are sister corps).
• Boston Crusaders:  V saw the flag bearer and said, "I bet he never thought he'd do that--carrying an American flag, half naked, in a goat mask."  The CG was still wearing their masks and acted restless, not stopping their animal antics.  Guy behind me:  "Do they ever stop?"  APPARENTLY not.

  

  Animals

  
  
• Blue Stars brought their couch.
• Phregiment formed their chevron.
• SCV made their traditional Vs.

  

  SCV Guard

Scores

12) 86.225 -- CROSSMEN

Jim Jones Leadership Award:  David Warren of Phantom Regiment

11) 87.575 -- MADISON SCOUTS

10) 88.950 -- BOSTON CRUSADERS

Best Color Guard:  Blue Devils

9) 89.600 -- BLUE STARS

Best Visual Performance:  Blue Devils

8) 91.150 -- BLUE KNIGHTS (a gasp throughout the crowd with the realization that someone jumped over them in placement)

Best Brass Performance:  Blue Devils  (do you see a pattern here?)

7) 91.425 --  PHANTOM REGIMENT (the jumper)

6) 93.675 -- CAVALIERS

Best percussion:  Santa Clara Vanguard!!!!!!  Our section went completely insane.  I yelled so much that I got lightheaded and had to hold onto my armrest so as not to faint.

5) 95.675 -- CAROLINA CROWN

4) 96.075 -- SANTA CLARA VANGUARD

3) 96.875 -- THE CADETS (many cheers from the crowd with the realization that they were jumped in placement -- so we weren't the only ones that didn't like the talky talk)  Bro predicts that the Cadets will come back with a vengeance next year.
  
2) 97.175 -- BLUECOATS (the jumper)  The corps tilted during the drum major salute.  COOL.

The winner of tonight had all the odds on them for the win.  So Bloo's 2nd place finish was like getting the win because the actual winner had been way ahead of everyone for much of the season.  The only question left:  would they break the scoring record?

1) 99.650 -- BLUE DEVILS (The answer is YES.  Yes, they sure the heck did!)  The stadium erupted with cheering, the most I've ever heard for them, and I've seen them win several championships.  But this win, this score, this corps could not be denied.

So SCV was the only corps to win a caption award over BD this year.  The recaps show that BD received 16 out of 22 scores of 100 from the judges on Finals night.   Nobody else received a 100, although SCV got 3 out of 4 99s in drums.  SCV last won high drums in 2004.  The show?  "Scheherazade".  Wow.  Thank you, caption head Paul Rennick!

Congratulations, BD and SCV!  WEST IS BEST!!!!

Encore

Blue Devils did their "Fellini-esque" show again, without their shakos, so we could see all of their faces.  I was disappointed that they didn't do more than that, not even the F-tuning warm up.

First BD Trumpet Soloist

2nd Trumpet Soloist

Snare Drums (Brandon is 1st row, on the left)

Last Shot

When we returned to our hotel, Bro and V packed up to go to stay at their friend Mike's house, to visit with his family.  Bye, guys!  I made my breakfast order for the next morning.

We'll be remembering this Finals Night for quite awhile.  Wow.

Feathered

On Super Bowl Sunday, I went to see "Black Swan".

• I've never actually seen "Swan Lake", but I'm familiar with Tchaikovsky's piece.  Now I want to see the whole ballet.
• I was creeped out by the mother from the first moment she helped take off Nina's earrings.
• I was also kind of creeped out by the excess of pink and cute stuffed toys in Nina's room.  She needs some Gloomy Bear.  Ooh, that would have been cool:  show her room at the end, and maybe there's a Gloomy and a couple of Skelanimals in there.  
•  I had to search imdb.com to find out what movie it was in which I first saw Vincent Cassel:  "Elizabeth".  That's why I already didn't like him, because he was the French jerk in that movie.  
• It took her drunken outburst for me to recognize Winona Ryder.  Is that a good thing?
• Natalie Portman was outstanding in this movie.  The accolades for her are well-deserved.
• Mila Kunis was excellent, too.  Was she trying to sabotage Nina?  And why the heck was she taking off her underwear as soon as she joined Nina in the bathroom?  She didn't even go into the stall.  I thought she really had to go.  What was up with that craziness?
• Was I the only one that saw those wings coming from the first view of her scratched-up shoulder blade?
• I'm glad that I never became a ballet dancer.  I'd be the perfectionist type, and would probably have an eating disorder.
• I'm really glad I saw this movie in the daytime, because I would have been afraid to walk home by myself in the dark, risking a sighting of my evil twin.

Good movie, although I wouldn't recommend it for people who like mainstream movies, due to the psychosexual nature of it.