Check out a Cadets on spring break photo gallery. Hello everyone. It's pretty early on Wednesday morning and I'm enjoying my second day off from work in a row. Pretty amazing! Of course every day is exciting, but yesterday was a little more exciting than usual because I got contact lenses. I've worn glasses since I was about 6 years old, so they've pretty much become
a part of who I am. However, I was happy to get rid of them yesterday. I tried a couple of times when I was younger, but I had trouble putting them in myself, so I just gave up. Now I am a champion and it's nice to be able to rock some Aviators now. I was pretty bored after I was done at the eye doctors so I decided to go to Super Target so I could kill some time. I don't know how it happened, but I ended up going through round one of shopping for tour. I think anytime a drum corps person enters a Target or Wal-Mart, we instantly think that we need things for the summer -- even if it is December. The same thing goes with Truck stops and convenience stores, although I don't think I've ever been at a truck stop unless I was on tour.) Part of me was saying, "What are you thinking? It's only March -- why are you buying stuff now?" while the other half was saying, "Shut up and buy everything that you make eye contact with." So of course I decided to start buying things. Tour shopping is always an adventure -- every year, I try to invent some sort of amazing contraption for bus storage or something. There's always a bunch of stuff that was made for one thing, that drum corps people buy and use for a totally different thing. For example, your basic toolbox. If asked in a nationwide survey, I'm pretty sure that any normal person would say that a toolbox is for holding tools. Now all of us drum corps people know that toolboxes were really made for holding your shower stuff. See what I mean? I seriously went to the shampoo aisle to pick out my toolbox -- and then I felt like a tool after realizing I had to go to the hardware department to find one. The things that I bought last night, added on to what I've accumulated over the years, puts me at about 75% done with shopping. I do need a new tour bag since mine is pretty destroyed. I'll probably get one of those today, and possibly finish up getting whatever else I need. If not, I still have a good two months to get it done. Ahhh, I can't believe we only have two months until move-in. Where has all of the time gone? Awesome.
a part of who I am. However, I was happy to get rid of them yesterday. I tried a couple of times when I was younger, but I had trouble putting them in myself, so I just gave up. Now I am a champion and it's nice to be able to rock some Aviators now. I was pretty bored after I was done at the eye doctors so I decided to go to Super Target so I could kill some time. I don't know how it happened, but I ended up going through round one of shopping for tour. I think anytime a drum corps person enters a Target or Wal-Mart, we instantly think that we need things for the summer -- even if it is December. The same thing goes with Truck stops and convenience stores, although I don't think I've ever been at a truck stop unless I was on tour.) Part of me was saying, "What are you thinking? It's only March -- why are you buying stuff now?" while the other half was saying, "Shut up and buy everything that you make eye contact with." So of course I decided to start buying things. Tour shopping is always an adventure -- every year, I try to invent some sort of amazing contraption for bus storage or something. There's always a bunch of stuff that was made for one thing, that drum corps people buy and use for a totally different thing. For example, your basic toolbox. If asked in a nationwide survey, I'm pretty sure that any normal person would say that a toolbox is for holding tools. Now all of us drum corps people know that toolboxes were really made for holding your shower stuff. See what I mean? I seriously went to the shampoo aisle to pick out my toolbox -- and then I felt like a tool after realizing I had to go to the hardware department to find one. The things that I bought last night, added on to what I've accumulated over the years, puts me at about 75% done with shopping. I do need a new tour bag since mine is pretty destroyed. I'll probably get one of those today, and possibly finish up getting whatever else I need. If not, I still have a good two months to get it done. Ahhh, I can't believe we only have two months until move-in. Where has all of the time gone? Awesome.
Paula Hyman is a fourth-year member of the Cadets where she is the mellophone section leader. She is 20 years old and currently single. Originally from South Florida, Paula recently made the move to Allentown, Pa., to work for YEA!, the umbrella organization of the Cadets, Crossmen and the U.S. Scholastic Band Association. She ages out in 2006.