Name, hometown, corps: Mandy Idso, Urbandale, Iowa, Colts What is your role in the corps this summer? Being a good member, friend, and role model -- but that is only during drum corps hours. Where do you go to school, and what extracurricular activities are you involved with there? University of Northern Iowa -- I do the typical college activities, call them extracurricular if you'd like (use your imagination) and I instruct a local high school color guard.

Mandy Idso (left) and Matt Gibson
Give us your full drum corps/marching music background, and how each position prepared you for the leadership role you're in this summer. This will be my sixth and last year with the Colts' color guard. Starting out as one of the youngest members in the corps and growing up in the corps has led me to the position I am in. I have seen many leaders through my years and take a little bit from each one. The last good book I read: Being the brilliant student I am, always reading my textbooks, I don't read for fun -- it's a waste of my free time. I can clutter my brain with much more enjoyable images -- like "American Idol" or "Survivor." The last great film I saw: Film? That sounds too sophisticated for me. Do you mean movie? Hmmmm ... prolly "Finding Nemo" -- very cute. But then again my other favorites are "Shrek" and "Monsters Inc." Hmmmm, notice a pattern? No I am not 12 years old although I look like it when I wear my hair in braids woven by Jen Acheson. Three CDs I'd want on a deserted island: "Dirty" (Christina Aguilera), "Gotta Get Thru This" (Daniel Bedingfield), and a mix of all my favorite songs -- a little of everything. My favorite TV show: "Newlyweds": Nick and Jessica, what can I say? I don't think she is that dumb, just a llittle slow. Man I give Nick some mad credit, how in the hell does he put up with half the stuff she does? Favorite performers: The Colt Cadets, hands down. How do you "blow off steam?" Figure it out and get over it. Why I march with the corps I am in: The Colts are awesome -- the family is great and it is true that I have met my best, life-long friends here. My sister marched here and roped me in -- I was a Colt for life after my first summer. Was it always your goal to be in a leadership role? No definitely not -- being in a leadership role is definitely stressful. Who asks to have added stress in their life? I sure don't. How will you go about balancing the roles of leader and corpsmate? Yeah, I am not very good at balancing those roles. I get in trouble cause I goof around with other corpsmates. Oh well, hopefully by the end of the summer I will have it figured out. What has been your formative drum corps moment? Too many to choose from. Move on to the next question please. Best drum corps show ever: The ones where the Colts rock the house! Go Red Team! What are you most looking forward to about the summer? Havin' the guard win the cutest section award. Watch out cymbals, here we come! Best thing about being a drum corps leader: Havin' everyone give me their stress and problems. I love receiving gifts -- it's great, every day of the summer. Worst thing about being a drum corps leader: Havin' to stand up next to Gibby (the Colts' drum major Matt Gibson) at retreat -- he's so much cuter than I am, he makes me look bad. During tour, the best part of the day is: Running around the field with my equipment over my head -- I love getting stronger. During tour, the worst part of the day is: Sleeping -- who needs it? There is no sleeping or down time in drum corps. Favorite drum corps personality and why: Gibby (the Colts' drum major Matt Gibson) -- he screams like a girl. Seriously, I will bet against anyone that you can't listen to him without chucklin'. What do you want to be when your drum corps career is over? What? Drum corps isn't forever? Why didn't I know this? Serious? It seriously ends? You're kidding me. I thought I could do this forever? Damn, I musta missed that memo ...