Finally! After what seems like months since the end of the 2003 marching band season, the 2004 marching season finally arrived on September 11. Tim and I were amped to get the season started.

It is important to pick the right music to listen to on the way to the show. Choosing the proper traveling tunes pushes us over what we like to call "the cliff of photographic excellence." Since the Mt. Vernon show marked the beginning of the 2004 season, we decided the music should encompass that as well. There was only one piece of music that could get us hyped up to take pictures and also celebrate the beginning of the season - Richard Strauss’ Also Sprach Zarathustra. Many orchestras have performed it, but no group has captured the raw energy and power like The Portsmouth Sinfonia.

After listening to that for the short trip to Mt. Vernon, we were ready to check out some marching bands.

Things started get to get a little weird as we reached Mt. Vernon. Tim noticed that there was a strange noise coming from my engine compartment so I pulled over to check it out. While inspecting the engine my hand touched the red hot manifold and I got burnt. My psychologist told me that I need to be more expressive and vent my anger, so I decided to let my engine know that I was upset with it and I started to beat it with my monopod.

Soon I realized that Mt. Vernon had no tolerance for violence directed at engines. I calmed down, apologized to my car and drove the rest of the way to the show.

After we arrived at the show, we quickly set up our cameras and prepared to take some photos. Suddenly Tim started screaming NOOOOOOOO! I quickly ran over to him to see if I could help. Through the wall of tears and high pitched shrieks I quickly learned that Tim forgot to bring his memory card for his camera, so he could not take any photos.

Upon hearing that, the audience immediately burst into spontaneous applause. Then the public address announcer said, "now if we can only get Scott to break his camera!"

I reminded Tim that I have my car and he could drive back home to get his memory card. Tim quickly composed himself and left the stadium to drive back to his house. Tim made it back to the show in about 45 minutes and rest of the show went on without incident.

After the show we stopped at the local Arby's for a bite to eat. We opted for the drive-through because we had only 5-1/2 hours to make the 20 mile trip from Mt. Vernon to Evansville Central. The service was excellent, not only were our roast beef sandwiches waiting for us when we got to the drive-through window, but they were also perfectly seasoned and individually wrapped!! Tim and I were so happy with the service we received, I sat in the drive-through lane, started honking my horn and chanting ARBY'S!! ARBY'S!! and Tim jumped up on the hood of my car, held his half eaten sandwich aloft and proclaimed THIS IS THE GREATEST ROAST BEEF SANDWICH EVER MADE!!! I AM GOING TO NAME MY NEXT CHILD ARBY!!!

The next stop was the Evansville Central show. This show was really intense. Not only were the performances awesome, they were all back to back. There were no breaks between bands. At the end of the show I was emotionally and physically drained. I had to stop for a few seconds and catch my breath before I packed up and drove home.

Unfortunately I was too tired to notice the No Standing In Area sign and was quickly roughed up by one of the security guards.

With any luck I'll be healed up enough to attend the shows next weekend...