Band Nerd

So yes, I was in band.  I played the trumpet from 7th grade through the end of high school. My school's band program was awesome in the fact that we won 1st in everything and went to state every year.  Last night was the Southwest Corp Connection at Glendale Community College which features some of the best Drum and Bugle Corps.  This already sounds nerdy and I'm not even finished yet.  Anyways, it was great.  Out of the 3 major competitors, I liked the Phantom Regiment the best (the people in white).  Watching the performances made me miss band, but only for a little bit.  What I don't miss, however, are the uniforms that magically turn everyone into men.  The actual uniform itself erases the appearance of a women, and then you also have to tuck all of your hair underneath the hat.  Not cute.  And then the shoes are really uncomfortable because they have a rolled heel that is supposed to help you march better.  They have a striking resemblance to nurse shoes...or some other kind of shoes.  After you have the uniform on, there is no doubt that if you are living in a place like Texas, or Arizona, that you are sweating like crazy.  Oh it gets so hot in those things.  Finally, playing the instruments is fun and all, until you come to the end of a dramatic song and have to sharply angle your horn up to the crowd.  There is a very good chance that your spit will come flowing through the pipes right back at you, so you have to be prepared and time it right.  It's disgusting, I know, but it's a fact of life that many band people have to deal with.