Just a few days ago, I was in the frigid Northeast – a place where the sun rarely makes an appearance this time of year. Now I am back home, and the sun is peering through my window as I write this. Ah, it is nice to be back! I think I'm going to go swimming later if this nice weather persists. It was a pretty long drive home, but my mom and I had a good time. Before I get into the ride back, I guess I should talk about camp a little, huh? It was amazing and very productive, just as I figured it would be. Our music is ridiculously exciting to play and probably even more exciting to listen to. If you keep up with anything on yea.org you probably know that we are not playing "Medea" anymore. Jay is just going to whip up another original composition, which is fine by me. He did an amazing job with "Liquid." And I can't wait to see what he has in store for our closer. I'm sure you've also heard we're marching 11 snares, six tenors and five basses. Cool. I felt like bringing an air mattress to this camp, so I borrowed one from my uncle. I was under the impression that it was a normal, twin-sized mattress. Apparently he got a new one since the last time I used it. I was wondering why it was taking so long to blow up and then I realized that it was a queen-sized mattress and it was also about knee high. It was incredible! Usually I just sleep in my little sleeping bag because it folds up to the size of a football, but this was a nice change. I think I might have to get one for camps just because it's enormous. It is the ultimate air mattress. The Drive home We started out a day off schedule and left on Tuesday due to the weather (and also because I got a late start Monday morning). I had to repack my car because you couldn't really see out of the back the way stuff was just thrown in there. After camp I just kind of just shoved things back in my car instead of neatly placing them in an organized fashion. So we left New York around 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday and drove all the way down to Columbia, S.C. Stopping in Columbia took us about 80 miles out of the way, but it was worth it to see my friends! I visited a couple of Cadets that night. It was great to see them. We ordered some pizza and hung out. Anyway, the next morning we were on the road again. I was determined to stop for some amazing South Carolina BBQ for lunch. However, I forgot to ask my friends where a good place was, and we didn't see any signs on I-95, so I didn't stop. I settled for the Georgia/Florida border a few hours later. A few more long hours, and we were home. I drove almost the entire way
from New York -- my mom would take over when I'd start falling asleep at the wheel. I was pretty tired, so I walked in the door, crawled into bed, and passed out. I went tanning earlier today -- OUTSIDE. Wahaha! When I lived here, I took the beach for granted, but now I am definitely going to take advantage of the fact that it's right here. OK enough about Florida, we should all know it's awesome by now. You know after you get back from tour and then you hear a song on the radio that you listened to a lot on the bus or something? So hearing it in the real world reminds you instantly of tour, right? Well, there is a song someone told me to listen to that just reminds me of actual tour. It's by the Ataris and is called "In this Diary." Check it out, for you will be amazed. Or maybe the Cadets are weird and it just describes our 2003 tour. Just check it out! All right, It is time for me to start looking for a job! 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. Past columns by Paula Hyman: Paradise awaits me With the new year comes change Cadets camp a success; Time for winter break Notes from a weekend off Banquets, show and tell -- report from a Cadets camp A Cadets camp report Macy's Day extravaganza Your not-so-typical day Trick-or-treating at a band show Trick-or-treating at a band show It's a show day! What's a free day? Rest stop or heaven? The Move to Allentown Welcome back to the real world
from New York -- my mom would take over when I'd start falling asleep at the wheel. I was pretty tired, so I walked in the door, crawled into bed, and passed out. I went tanning earlier today -- OUTSIDE. Wahaha! When I lived here, I took the beach for granted, but now I am definitely going to take advantage of the fact that it's right here. OK enough about Florida, we should all know it's awesome by now. You know after you get back from tour and then you hear a song on the radio that you listened to a lot on the bus or something? So hearing it in the real world reminds you instantly of tour, right? Well, there is a song someone told me to listen to that just reminds me of actual tour. It's by the Ataris and is called "In this Diary." Check it out, for you will be amazed. Or maybe the Cadets are weird and it just describes our 2003 tour. Just check it out! All right, It is time for me to start looking for a job! 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. Past columns by Paula Hyman: Paradise awaits me With the new year comes change Cadets camp a success; Time for winter break Notes from a weekend off Banquets, show and tell -- report from a Cadets camp A Cadets camp report Macy's Day extravaganza Your not-so-typical day Trick-or-treating at a band show Trick-or-treating at a band show It's a show day! What's a free day? Rest stop or heaven? The Move to Allentown Welcome back to the real world