Back to Babylon

Well, it's June 20, 2020.  Do you know where I had plans to be on this day before the pandemic hit?

Yup.  The first weekend of drum corps.

DCI canceled its season this year, and I'm OK with the reason for it, because when I was watching the "On The Road Again" videos from the 80s, I saw people sharing water bottles and all sleeping on the gym floors, and having fun in the buses, and I was, like, "Oh, hell no, that would have been an absolute disaster!"  I mean, I knew they did all these things before, but seeing it on video after a few months of cringing whenever people get close to each other on TV without masks made me all germophobic.

So what's a blogger to do when she has no shows to write about?  She writes about old shows.

Today would have been my first blogging day after a wonderful early dinner in Fresno at Limon and an opening day of seeing shows for the very first time.  I miss my road trip with Bro.  I miss that restaurant.  I miss writing about the crazy things we say.  But most of all, I miss watching Vanguard in a stadium.

I'm happy to share with you this video of someone watching 2018 SCV's show, "Babylon".  Below the video, you can read my reaction to the show as it progressed through the season, with links to the blog post from that day, if you want to read about the other stuff that happened that day, too.

I'm so glad that she liked all of the stuff that the folks familiar with drum corps cheer about, like the snap, and the music, and the movement, and the creativity.  BTW, I teared up again today.

I think I've hit on what I'll do this season: show you old stuff, maybe through Courtney's eyes, maybe through other means.

For now, enjoy seeing someone react to Vanguard.  Maybe you will react a little bit, too.






First show: MidCal Champions Showcase

SANTA CLARA VANGUARD

Repertoire: "Babylon" -- My Body is A Cage by P. Gabriel; Journey to the Center of the Earth by P. Graham; Metropolis 1927 by P. Graham; Apology by Z. M. di la Riva; Club Sound by Gent and Jawns

I guess the reason SCV has not given any sneak previews of their uniforms on social media is that they have not received them yet.  Or they will continue to wear what look like pajamas on the field: white with a V on the torso that looks like a check mark.  They use big platforms that look like they are building the Tower of Babel, but they use them in an innovative way, with the shorter platforms fitting under the taller ones.  All of that movement had me mesmerized  I worry when the different people do the acrobatic stuff on top, because I'm afraid they'll fall.  I'm a worrier.  The gymnastics are impressive.  Whoa...that snare ensemble solo!  I hope that their actual uniforms will stay on sufficiently so that they do not have to pull up their pants after the all-corps dance segment.  The horns sound great.  I love this show!

Second show:  DCI West

SANTA CLARA VANGUARD

The color guard has uniforms now.  Are the drum majors ninjas? The pit members have their mouths covered by the same type of thing as the drum majors, to show the theme of Babylon, wherein the storyline is for the corps members to find another way to communicate since they do not all speak the same language.  Bro figured that the horn players couldn't wear the same thing since they need to actually play their instruments.  They're playing and getting spun around on their towers, and...wow.  Those snares!  Bro wants Miss O to learn the dance so he can post it.  He said this show looks really good in the big stadium.  Show is not yet finished, and they didn't play the closing number at all.

Not since 2007 has SCV scored higher than BD.  We are happy Vanguard fans today!

When we got back to the hotel, Bro saw that SCV's uniforms are, indeed, cream-colored, although they are different from what we saw yesterday.  I'm not sure we saw the new uniform today because we were far from the field.  

The recaps show that this is going to be a close competition between BD and SCV, and they have the top two scores nationwide from all of the shows last night.  Way to go, WEST!

Third show:  Moonlight Classic

SANTA CLARA VANGUARD

#checkmarkband.  Bro and I were laughing at twitter earlier, because the Cadets were calling themselves the zebra cake band because of their uniforms, and people are calling SCV by the aforementioned hashtag.  That girl leaped off of the platform and was caught by the other corps members.  This show gets more amazing every day.  It also gets more dangerous, and I'm glad that DCI's current campaign on the health and safety of its performers not only includes their psychological health, but also their physical health due to the increasing number of props and gymnastics in the shows.

This year is going to be interesting between SCV and BD.  Mandarins look promising to make finals.  It's gonna be a fun season, folks!  I'm looking forward to what Pacific Crest brings when they get into the mix of competition next week.

Fourth show:  SCV Family Day / Pacific Procession

SANTA CLARA VANGUARD

How high is that note?!?  Jeepers!  I didn't realize that the people playing that note were on the right side of the field, using mic stands.  This show gets more amazing every day, and they still have only done their closer at a stand still.

Fifth show: Corps at the Crest - San Diego

SANTA CLARA VANGUARD
That baritone duet leading to the full corps during "My Body Is A Cage" is just awesome!  How often does that happen that the baritones get so much solo work?  That trio of trumpets, too.  WOW.
Rudy:  THAT IS INSANE!  WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!?!!?  
He was laughing happily through the whole show.  They did the closer drill!  It's very cool, and I look forward to how it's going to develop until Finals.  The ending right now is of a color guard member on each of two tall towers, coming together.

Looking forward to seeing that SCV closer again in Pasadena!  I can't get enough of that show.

Sixth show:  Corps at the Crest - Rose Bowl

SANTA CLARA VANGUARD

I just cannot describe this show, except with superlatives, because GAAAAAAHHHHH!!!  Love the decrescendo in the first piece as the horns kneel and face the right side. Their dynamics are more prominent now.  My whole party went bananas when they saw this show, which made me very happy.  

As predicted by Bro, SCV wins in the bigger stadium.  We are happy Vanguard fans!

The consensus of those of us in the car:  favorites of the night were Mandarins and SCV.  Because my friends have excellent taste.

Seventh show:  Western Corps Connection

SANTA CLARA VANGUARD
I tried to see if the color guard guy also does something acrobatic during the other guy's back flip, but he doesn't.  That's OK. This show is still amazeballs.

Two nights in a row over BD, and in a smaller stadium, no less.  YAY!

Eighth viewing:  DCI Prelims

SANTA CLARA VANGUARD -- 96.8*
They keep rolling off of the cages and it's freaking me out because I think they're falling.  I. LOVE. THIS. SHOW. TOO. MUCH.  It makes me nervous, but I love it.

Ninth viewing: DCI Semifinals

SCV -- 98.263*
That. Was.  SPECTACULAR.  Don't fall!  All of us in the Vanguard section went apeshit crazy.  My throat was sore from all of the screaming.  

Tenth viewing: DCI Finals

SANTA CLARA VANGUARD
I saw them waiting in the tunnel entrance during BD's show and got all excited.  Go, George!  He is the backfield drum major, and my seat neighbor's son.  I don't remember hearing the recording of the different languages at the beginning of the show before.   ACK! Leo's mic!  Then the guy got hit by the prop.  Oh, geez.  VAAAANNNNNGUAAAAAARRRRRRD!!!!!   

Our section went bananas.  I think I stood up 3 times during the show.  I could barely contain myself from the moment they started.  AAAAHHHH, I LOVE THIS SHOW!  I would like to see that again tonight, please.  PLEASE!!!

Scores

And now, the scores.  (Big exhale).  Caption awards are based on the best average from Prelims, Semifinals, and Finals nights.

World Class Corps Director of the Year:  Shaun Gallant of SCV!!!!!
YAY, SEAN!!!!!  He's awesome.

John Brazale Best Visual Performance Award:  SANTA CLARA VANGUARD

Jim Ott Best Brass Performance Award:  SANTA CLARA VANGUARD

Fred Sanford Best Percussion Performance Award: SANTA CLARA VANGUARD
(That's the 3rd year in a row for SCV.  YES!!!)

Donald Angelica Best General Effect Award:  SANTA CLARA VANGUARD

3) 96.95 -- BLUECOATS
2) 97.35 -- BLUE DEVILS
1) 98.625 -- SANTA CLARA VANGUARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Congratulations to all the corps.  Santa Clara Vanguard, the field is yours."

OK, after a week of debriefing this in my head, I have tears in my eyes as I typed that last quote from Brandt Crocker.

The crowd went insane.  We were happy, happy, happy, and I almost lost my voice from the screaming every time Brandt announced SCV's name.  It's been 19 long years since their last title, and they shared it in a tie with BD.  It's an SCV Sweep, y'all.  Both SCVC and SCV won the gold!

Eleventh viewing:  Finals Champion Encore

I went to the restroom because I knew it would take a while to clear the field.  I heard the announcement, "Ladies and gentlemen, we need to clear the field...the field belongs to Santa Clara Vanguard."  That's RIGHT, it does!!!!!

Well, would ya look at that?

Encore

SANTA CLARA VANGUARD

• 2018 production:  "Babylon"

I'm looking forward to seeing all of the Go Pro videos
from this encore performance!

Here are links to some of the headcam footage from that victory run (warning: you might get a little dizzy):

Mello Claw Cam  "We did it!"

Contra Cam  "We just won band!"

Center Snare Cam "Let's keep it clean"

Compilation Cam  Wait.  Somebody is singing?

After we all calmed down from watching that amazing victory performance one more time, Brandt said, "There's one more song that needs to be played."  ACK, I'm crying again.

• Corps song:  "Send in the Clowns"

I'm pretty sure Gail Royer was beaming with pride while watching this from his seat up in heaven.

We went to the lot to see if SCV was going to do anything special before letting everyone leave, but they must have said whatever they needed to say back in the stadium tunnel.  So we took pictures of each other before returning to the hotel.

Happy Vanguard Fans

Happy Sibs

From the other side of the cage

Our bodies are by a cage

Thank you, SCV, for this awesome season.  Congratulations on your seventh gold.

One of the DCI.org article opening lines was, "It started with Stanford."  Indeed.  SCV had one loss since Stanford in June, and dominated all season, despite the thoughts of the East Coast fans that the West Coast scores were inflated.  People, we happen to have the best corps out West, so deal with it.  I am proud of this corps.  They had some hiccups during this year's tour, with their food truck getting in an accident (rendering it a total loss and having to rent a temporary one), their souvie trailer also having issues, and the rained-out Allentown show.  Yet through it all, they persevered, they worked hard, they kept up the classy and positive attitude for which they are famous, and they did it!  They won!  19 years ago, when they last won the title, Bro and I attended our first DCI Finals, and we've been hooked ever since.  This feeling of pride in our favorite corps has never wavered, even through the lower-ranked years.  It feels so awesome to see SCV win again, with such an amazing show that will be talked about with superlatives for years and years.  With the Vanguard Cadets winning, too, I am just thrilled for the organization.  There's No Place Like Santa Clara.  

Next up:  Not SCV

Put It in O, for Onward!

I hadn't been to the movies in awhile, and haven't posted here in a longer while.  The only movie I saw in the theater during this time was "Onward".  I knew going in that the kids were dealing with wanting to see their dad again, and I figured it would be good for me.  My mom passed away a week or two before the movie was released, and I needed something that was both an escape and an awareness to my state of mind.  Life has been busy since then, dealing with the funeral arrangements and the life adjustments, as well as all of the craziness about COVID19.  In fact, when I saw "Onward", it was shortly before we in California were asked to stay home, and the AMC theaters had not yet started selling tickets for only half of the theater, much less closing them altogether.  Now "Onward" is already available on Disney+, and I'm writing this before I see it again on the smaller screen.

• I've never before seen such non-elegant unicorns.
• It's like "Weekend at Bernie's", Pixar style!
• I love Barley and all of his knowledge about the magic world.
• Tom Holland is really good at playing insecure teenagers.  OK, teenagers.   "Insecure" is redundant.
• Mom Laurel is kickass.  She's such a great mom, supporting her kids and physically defending them, too.
• Fun stuff when the school building turned into the dragon.  It reminded me a little bit about the scene with the toy pitch in "Big" when the guy's idea was to transform the toy into a building.  This was much better.
• Hey, I know that Leap of Faith thing.  I like Indiana Jones, too.  I saw the film in IMAX, and the height made me a bit nervous.
• I liked the Manticore's Tavern.  I also liked the sign referring to Second Breakfast.  I don't know if I was the only one in the theater to giggle aloud at that.
• "First name?" "The."

I enjoyed that movie, and it gave me the catharsis I needed.  I cried a lot. A LOT.

Looking forward to seeing it again, maybe with drier eyes.

I Thought We Should Talk

I wasn't able to see "Marriage Story" in the theater (remind me never to try to park near the Los Feliz theater in the evenings), so I watched it on Netflix at my friend Linda's house prior to the Oscars.  She didn't want to sit through 3 hours of "The Irishman" again, so I didn't bother to ask.  I'll watch that eventually, though.

• So, Kylo Ren and Black Widow are getting a divorce...
• I really liked those "What I Love About..." letters.  That's one of the tools I would have used if I had continued to pursue my counseling career.
• I like that they both loved each other's competitiveness.
• I loved Laura Dern's role in this movie.  Laura Dern, Laura Dern, Laura Dern!!!
• I also loved how the film portrayed both characters with faults, and not just one being the villain (more Ben Solo than Kylo Ren, then).
• Both ScarJo and Driver were outstanding in their roles.  
• Baumbach's writing is incredible in this film, and I'm really glad he won Best Screenplay at the Spirit Awards.
• I thought it was hilarious when Cassie was trying to get her part right when serving the divorce papers.
• "It's all garnish, vegeterianism."
• Me:  "You need to go to a hospital!"  That observer woman couldn't even dial 911?!
• Loved all of the Hallowe'en costumes.  Must be nice to know costume designers that will make stuff for you.
• Aw, he didn't know where to bring the kid trick or treating.
• "You *were* happy. You've just decided that you weren't now."
• "I didn't even know what my taste was because I was never asked to use it."
• “And I’ll never stop loving him, even though it doesn’t make sense anymore.”
• Dude, Kylo Ren can sing!  Honestly, he did a great job, and I'd love to see Adam Driver in a musical, because he knows how to act and sing at the same time, instead of just singing whatever.  I really liked his rendition of "Being Alive"

I cried a lot, I laughed a lot; I really enjoyed this movie.

Orders from the General

I took Tuesday off due to a couple of personal appointments, and I had a few hours between them, so I was able to watch "1917" in Dolby.  I thought I was going to have the whole row to myself, but then other people arrived, and I wondered why they weren't at work.  I guess they could have wondered the same about me, huh?  Anyway, I'm glad that they didn't sit in the seats next to me, because there were a lot of empty seats in the theater.

• When they were in the trenches, I thought, "Wonder Woman is there!"  She wasn't, though.
• Aw, poor war horses.
• Wait.  Who milked the cow?
• He sure had to do a lot of running.
• "It also has a ribbon."
• " I hoped today would be a good day. Hope is a dangerous thing."
• "Even their rats are bigger than ours."
• The cinematography was gorgeous.  I really liked the falling of the cherry blossoms.
• Oh, that's where I've seen Blake before:  Game of Thrones!  
• That singer's voice was beautiful.  No wonder they were all listening attentively.

This movie was very well done, and deserving of the accolades it's received thus far.  I like that director Mendes is honoring his grandfather's stories in this way.

The Girls

I finally had time to see "Little Women" on Sunday.  I've never read the book, so everything was new to me.  

By the way, I took the March Sisters quiz.  Here's my result:

YOU GOT: AMY MARCH

You are confident and strong willed. You have had a remarkable transition from adolescence to adulthood. You seek out what you want and believe in yourself. You are a talented artist who has matured in the best version of yourself. #AmyMarch

• Timothee Chalamet, I can't quit you.  Perhaps this is why I'm Amy.
• "I won't do it, not when I've spent my entire life loving you."
• I'm trying to get used to the fact that Emma Watson is now an adult and can portray a mother, because I still think of her as Hermione Granger.
• Jo being heartbroken over Laurie marrying Amy is one of the reasons I never had a sister.  OK, it was more because I didn't want to share my clothes, but I also didn't want to share anything else, especially guys.
• "Now I can be angry with him in person."
• I liked Amy's spirit, except for when she burned Jo's work.  I am looking forward to seeing Florence Pugh in "Black Widow".
•  "You will care for somebody, and you'll love him tremendously, and live and die for him. I know you will, it's your way, and you will and I'll watch."  Aw, that killed me.
• "I may not always be right, but I am never wrong."
• "Do what Marmee told us to do.  Do it for someone else."
• "I'd rather be a free spinster and paddle my own canoe." 
• I loved the scene wherein Jo is watching her book being printed.

I really enjoyed this movie.  Maybe one day, I'll actually read the book.

DLR LotD 01/24/20

Disneyland Resort
Line of the Day

Friday, January 24, 2020

"Outta my way." -- Ryan, greeting Sherry, at Catal

Last birthday dessert of the year:
Caramel Apple Profiteroles

Just Peachy

I saw "Parasite" at a late showing with Glenndy.  I hadn't seen any trailers, so I didn't know what to expect.  All I knew was that Cindy wanted to see it again.  The trailers played prior to the movie were not anything I wanted to see, and all I could do was narrate some of them to Cindy because she refused to watch them due to scary/yucky stuff.  Like balloons.

• "You smell like her."
• I immediately did not like the rich dad.  He was snooty, and I don't think he actually loves his wife.
• I have a box with a lock like that!  I got it while I was in South Korea.
• Peaches.  Peach dust.  I now want peach pie.
• I also want to try whatever that noodle dish was...ramen and steak or something.
• I do not, however, want to try the dog treats.
• "Jessica" being drunk was hilarious and I wanted to hang out with her, if not for the whole con artist thing.
• "They are nice because they are rich."
• Loved the rehearsal scene.  
• "I forgot something in the basement under the kitchen."
• "You know what kind of plan never fails?  No plan.  No plan at all."

I enjoyed this movie, and I think its nomination for Best Picture is well deserved.  4 more to go!

DLR LotD 01/18/20

Disneyland Resort
Line of the Day

Saturday, January 18, 2020

"Good talk." -- Stormtrooper, ending his interrogation of Sherry, at Batuu

Singing in the Shipyard

The Last Ship

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Ahmanson Theatre

Los Angeles, CA

KP wasn't able to use her tickets to see "The Last Ship", so she gave them to me for Bro and V to use.  Thanks, KP!!  She had tickets for another day, too, so I'm glad for that.  I arrived at the Music Center a little bit early, so I bought a glass of wine and a cookie while I waited for the doors to open to the theatre.  Construction recently completed, which included a new fountain, so I just watched that while I played my game on my phone.

Sting is on a theater poster, y'all.

The doors were opened and Bro and V hadn't arrived yet, so I walked around to read the walls, which had some historic photos of performers at the Music Center.

Little did he know back then that he would
be the voice of Vader.

Prior to almost causing a
Global Thermonuclear War

Bro snuck up on me and I ignored his attempt to say hello to me, because I'm used to ignoring people in Downtown LA.  Sorry about that, Bro.  When V joined us, we went to our seats, which were first row balcony, so it was kind of scary for me to be close to the edge, but I liked our view.

Thank you, KP!

It was opening night in LA, but I forgot to look for famous people in the lobby. 

The orchestra is on the stage
as they were for Dear Evan Hanson.

Most of the cast was on stage prior to the show, and they waved to people in the audience, including us.  I'm just letting you know this because SOMEBODY said it would be entered on a blog somewhere.

• Lots of applause as soon as Sting entered the stage.  He did not disappoint!
• I loved Frances McNamee's voice!  She played Meg, and she made me cry, maybe two or three times.
• When they started speaking with their accents, V was concerned that she wouldn't be able to understand what was going on in the show.  Same here, but we eventually got used to the cadence of their speech.
• I don't know how they dance in those heavy boots.
• I wonder if the character of Ellen is supposed to represent Sting, since she is a musician and wants to follow that dream.
• So did Meg just not want to even tell Gideon that she was having his baby?  Maybe he would have come home...or maybe she was afraid that even if he knew, he wouldn't come home.  Of course, I concentrated more on the romance part of the show more than the whole shipyard ordeal.  
• The special effects of the set were really cool.  I especially liked the silhouettes during "When We Danced".

Curtain Call

I looked at the price of the vinyl album autographed by Sting, but the $100.00 price tag was too pricey for me.  So I kept with the magnet that I bought because I liked the stained glass design in the background.

I liked the poignancy of the show, and I think Sting did a great job, as did all of the performers.  

"The Last Ship" runs through February 16, 2020.  Go see him before he goes to his residency in Vegas!

Strolling Around the Big Apple

Birthday Trip to NYC

Day 3

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Travel Home

I ate some of the goodies we still had left over while getting ready for the day.  Jenn and I walked back to Pret for more Wizarding until it was time for me to go meet my friend.  I told Jenn that she would like Susanne, so she decided to join us.  Susanne just happened to be in NYC for the weekend, and I had seen her post on Facebook, so we decided to get together.  

I didn't know JT was an attorney.

Jenn's leg was feeling a little bit better, so we opted to walk to the cafe.  I wanted to go to the Philippine Embassy while we were close by, but we got turned around somehow.  While being turned around, we saw the library, and I saw someone take a picture of this plaque, which was in the sidewalk across the street from the library, so I took a picture, too, because I really liked it.

Books At Our Feet

As we walked by Bryant Park, I saw a familiar building.  Before telling Jenn what I saw, I used Google Lens to make sure that I was right this time.  

For real now: the Empire State Building!

We laughed at our ignorance, and we made sure that Pauline could see that we finally know what the building looks like.  For now.

I texted Susanne to tell her that we were almost at the cafe, and she told us that she was seated upstairs.  But when we got there, I didn't see any stairs.  Uh oh.  Susanne was in a different Bluestone Lane location!  She told us that she would meet us where we were,  so Jenn ordered our brunch: Salmon Toast and an Aussie Iced Latte.  I figured that going to an Australian establishment was perfect because we were in solidarity with those suffering from the horrific fires.

G'Day, Bananaman!

Susanne finally arrived and I introduced her to Bananaman.  I love that she said, "He is a bit obscene, isn't he?" Then she proceeded to take pictures of him and with him.

"Obscene" does not have to be bad, you know.
Susanne gets it.

The three of us had a great conversation, then we let her go because she needed to get ready to watch a show.

Thanks for a lovely coffee talk, ladies!

We still had plenty of time before our late checkout, so we found the Philippine Embassy on our way back.  

I love that sun on the flag.

Mabuhay!

The embassy was closed for the day, so we went shopping in a souvenir place next door, and I found a keychain for KP.  

This street sign reminds me of "Splash".

I felt like I was on some kind of movie tour.

Then I saw the sign for "Hotel Chocolat" and could smell the delicious aroma of chocolate when someone opened the door, so of course, I walked in.  I ended up buying something that wasn't even chocolate at all, although I thought it was, but it ended up being a nice mistake (it was a Sugar and Sour Orange Body Scrub instead of the chocolate scent that I smelled on the sample).  The cashier told me it was her favorite, and it is very nice.

Godzilla & Kong enjoying coffee
Yes, they are made of chocolate!

We walked back to the hotel, finished packing, and took a taxi to Newark.  We checked our bags and got in line for TSA.  We were there for about 15-20 minutes, but when I got to the front, the agent told me that what I was holding was not a boarding pass, but my receipt for my bag.  I couldn't get my app to work quick enough, so they told me to go back to the ticket agent to resolve the issue.  It wasn't far away, but as I started to approach the ticket line, the app started to work again and I went back to TSA.  I didn't even need to wait another 10 minutes because the line had significantly shortened, but I did have to wait a while to get my carryon item checked.  Meanwhile, I saw this:

Aw, it's my Superman.

Once I finally made it through TSA, I joined Jenn, whom was sitting at a restaurant and Wizarding.  

Our plane was quite full, and someone sat between us, but the flight was fine, even though we missed our First Class treatment.  When we landed in LAX and got our bags, Jenn's car service picked us up, and we went to her house.  

We said our goodbyes, and I gave her big thank you hugs.

Thank you for an awesome birthday trip, Jenn!  I had a wonderful time, and I wish I could treat you with the same generosity and kindness for your birthday.  Maybe someday. 

Bananaman says "Thank you for the adventure!"