Usually just pride...

But today there's glory too!
Cougs won the game 64-21. Cougars are the second highest scoring team in the country. Virginia Tech got 66. Huskies barely won their game - against Eastern, no less. And we finally have more wins than losses (and a perfect record).
Okay, so that last one is a little bit over exaggerated... But it's still true!

This may seem really... unnecessary, but if you didn't want to read it, you wouldn't!
This is what my day looked like today, with small commentary about events.

7:00 - Woke up.
7:15 - Okay, I actually woke up at 7:15... But I was up before..
7:30 - Left dorm with Amanda, my really good friend. Actually, I think that she's my best friend here. More on her later.
8:00 - On the field in Martin Stadium with the rest of the CMB. We practiced. Luckily, we only did everything once. If we'd done any more, my face would be WAY more dead than it is. (I can't wait for tomorrow. My lips will look like I've been punched.)
9:00(ish) - Went back to Kimbrough Music Hall and put away my instrument. Then Amanda and I walked back home and got her uniform and hat. We later found out that everyone else got free subway for 'lunch.' I was so mad.
11:00(ish) - Left for the concert at the Museum of Art. That was a lot of fun. We basically just played a bunch of songs and then our show tunes. My lips were DEAD from last night though, so I barely played. Also, I hadn't eaten all day. I didn't eat until about an hour ago at 6:30. God that was torture.
12:00(ish) - About half of the band left for Cougar Prowl, while the other half of us left for the Cougar Den. I was with Kyle. I didn't know I would be, and Erin put us in those groups, anyway. He's really funny and really intense with his horn flashes. His smile is just the cutest.... ANYWAY.
1:00(ish) - Our small group left for Martin Stadium. We FINALLY got water, I was so thirsty.
1:30(ish) - We all lined up for pre-game.
1:40 - The band finally took the field for our pre-game show. As we were running on, I had the most incredible surge of pride. School spirit literally coursed through me. I officially bleed crimson. (Not that I didn't really before, but you know what I mean.)
2:00 - The band took the stands. Only 3 people separated Kyle and myself. He is so cute. And really loud during football games.
5:00(ish) - COUGARS WON 64-21!!!!!

After the game we played the fight song twice, and then sang the Alma Mater. I love singing the Alma Mater with the band, because we just exude so much school pride. Then after we sing, the Drum Majors jump around and say "BAND WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?" And we answer "BEST IN THE WEST!" That happens three times and then we say "GO COUGS!" all together.

When we all got back to Kimbrough and had changed out of our uniforms, I went upstairs to get my mello case and hat box. I found Todd there.
I know Todd from helping with NTHS' marching band. Saw him at Future Cougar Day last year, then made friends with him over the ensuing months, frequently asking for advice on college and life in general.
I had seen him earlier a few times, but I was determined that I would not make a fool of myself by approaching him. When I saw him after getting off the elevator, he approached me.

"Fine, don't say 'hi'." He said

I turned around. "Oh, hi! I didn't even see you! How are you?" Complete bullshit as you well know.

"I'm great. Did you have a good time today?"

"The best! I'm exhausted and in so much pain, but it was so worth it."

"Good, I'm glad."

So we spoke like that for a while, until I finally told him that my section hates me. Which is mostly true. All but 3 of them strongly dislike me, or don't care about me.

"If it makes you feel any better, the mellos hated me, too. But that was because I was dating one of their section."

"It really doesn't make me feel any better... You weren't a part of the section, why should they like you?" I joked. "But that's why I'm switching instruments as of Monday."

Todd was surprised. "What are you switching to?"

"Tenor sax."

He made a face. "Why sax?"

"I like them a LOT better than I like my section. And one of them is on my floor. She's probably my closest friend here."

"Well that's good that you're making friends. Facebook tells me that you're having a great time here."

I was a little embarrassed. "Maybe I should cut down on my posts..."

The elevator came, and I got on it and said goodbye. He told me he'd be here next weekend, too, so I should say 'Hi' then. I said that I would.

I got downstairs and found Amanda. We went back up the elevator and down the stairs into the lobby of Kimbrough. We talked to her section for a little while, me explaining how I am in desperate need of at least one reed. But the other Kyle isn't ordering them until Monday, which is when I need it by. So I'm screwed.

Now I'm home.

But before I go to bed, I'm telling you about yesterday. It was the most fun I'd had in a really long time.
I started playing at 5:00 in the evening yesterday, and didn't stop until 11:00.
My. Lips. Were. Dead.
We played at the "First Down Friday" festival downtown, then for the "Feast of the Arts" patrons. Then we had practice until about 9:00.
After that, most of the band did something called ICB, where the band dresses up in as little clothes as possible - with themes, of course - and plays for Greek Row and the President.
Our section's theme was Risky Business. That of course means that we wore white tube socks, a white dress shirt, and white underwear. Surprisingly, we were not the least dressed there.

Yes, 6 hours of playing absolutely KILLED my lips.
Then about 5 more today...
MY LIPS WILL DIE TONIGHT IN MY SLEEP.
I will never be able to play a brass instrument again.

Well, goodnight! I'm exhausted, in so much pain, and nearly died of thirst and hunger, but I'm so excited to do it again next weekend.

GO COUGS!

By the way....

I am SO allergic to something here. Like... Hay or wheat or something.

In other news, I have a new room mate. Her name is Tess and she is exactly like me. Her hair is just a little bit redder.
There are so many things I could expand on with her being just like me, but I'll stick to the basics. She hates scary movies, loves all of the same music as me, has had her hair chemically straightened, she even knows someone that I know. It's ridiculous. She's awesome.

I met another guy on Monday. Not that I haven't met guys every day, but these are the ones of note. The ones that I could possibly be interested in.
Like Isak. He definitely isn't the cutest boy in the world, but he's definitely up there.
He's very republican, very into board games, very nice, and, most importantly, incredibly smart.

I never thought I'd meet someone with the same kind of intelligence and wit that I have. Not that you all aren't smart, because you are. It's just a different kind of smart.

We met in English at 9:00 in the morning, because I was late to class on Monday, and the only open seat was next to him in the back of the classroom. I sat down, and we began to speak with one another immediately. I really don't remember at all what we talked about, probably how freaking hot it was Sunday night and how little sleep we got because of it, but that doesn't matter. It's more the fact that we did.
After class, he asked me if I like board games.

"I guess, I mean I don't play much, but I have a lot of fun when I do."

"Which one's your favorite?" He asked.

"I don't know... Either Risk or Trivial Pursuit. Why?"

"I don't know. A bunch of my friends and I get together and play really abstract board games."

"That sounds like fun. Hey, could I join sometime?" I asked.

"Yeah. Just give me your number and I'll text you next time we're playing."

I gave him my phone number. DUH.

"Okay, well, this is my building. I'll see you Wednesday!" I said.

"See you then. Bye."

And thus we parted ways. He texted me later in the day so I had his number, too, but we didn't talk at all really.
Then today, I wasn't late to English, but I still sat next to him in the back of the room. We bonded over peer reviews; mostly making fun of what other people had written. Eventually, he told me that he is very very conservative. I told him that I am very very liberal.

"I can probably change that."

"Oh, can you?"

"Yep. Just give me about a year."

"Well, we've got four. Give it your best shot."

Walking to my next class, we continued to talk. He ended up reminding me a lot of Elliot, and he said I remind him of his friend Megan.


Then tonight, just before band, I texted him. This weekend the Nuthouse Improv group is having their "Bring a Date to Nuthouse!" event. I figured I'd ask him.
The following is our conversation. He will be in italics... and bold.

Did you go to the Nuthouse comedy thing last week?
No.
Do you want to this week?
Sure. When is it?
What are you doing tomorrow?
Sorry it took me so long! I'm not allowed to text during band. I'm not doing anything tomorrow. Yay for no class Thursday! Why?
We should have lunch and play a board game.
We definitely should. What time and where?
12:00 in the CUB's cafeteria sound good?
Sure. Sounds great. (:
Golden.


I really had no idea what to say to that. Like, what do you say to that? Seriously.
So the whole point of that was to tell the world that I have a 'lunch date' tomorrow. Or, what I perceive to be a lunch date. Seriously, I am overanalyzing this like crazy.
PLEASE MAKE ME STOP.

I'm super excited!

It's happening

I talked to Don and Chris today, and they were both perfectly fine with me switching to sax! I'm really excited about this, guys. I've really been wanting to learn a new instrument for a long time, and I am finally doing it!
The fact that my crush and 'best' friend here are in that section has only had a slight influence on me.

I got my music for the section today though! When I was getting it, Kyle was looking at me slightly quizzically. He's a section leader though... Shouldn't he know I'm joining them? Well, hopefully if he doesn't know, it will be a pleasant surprise for him. Not one of "OMG SHE'S STALKING ME!!"
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha
Yes. I laughed that hard.

I made another friend today!! We were basically talking about how much we both hate Catcher in the Rye during English, and all of a sudden he asked me, "Do you like board games?"

"Uh... Yes?"

"My friends and I play games every once in a while. You should play with us some time."

"Okay! Just let me know when and where, and I'll be there."

He took out his phone. "Okay, what's your number? I'll text you when we're playing."

So I get to play board games with a bunch of people every once in a while now. You know, assuming it doesn't interfere with my marching band duties...

I'm just really happy that I'm making friends. Now, it's only a question of whether or not I'll be keeping them.

A change of heart?

I'm not sure that I stated this in my first post, but I play the french horn. I am in wind symphony on that, and in marching band on its counterpart, the mellophone.
But not anymore.

I am the newest member of, that's right, the tenor sax section. Yes, the one with Kyle in it. The section with my new good friend Amanda in it. I'm really excited about this, but I'm really nervous about it, too.

Because what if my section hates me after this switch? I mean, I'm doing it to get away from most of them, but what about Nikki? And Kendra? And Shelby? They all like me. A lot! I mean, I'm Shelby's favorite! I'm actually someone's favorite for once in my life! But if I switch, will she ever forgive me?
It's true too that the two sections sit right next to each other. So I'm worried that Erin and Amy will... I don't know... shun me? And Emily! I have to sit next to her in Wind Symphony! She's insufferable as it is, but now? I just don't even know if I could handle that.

Well, here is the story of how it happened, if you care. Which you SHOULD!

Amanda, my floor mate, and I were at the soccer game. Well, the pre-soccer game. Most of the band just stayed long enough to finish playing, then left. That's what Amanda and I did.
I followed her, because, you know, we're neighbors! I figured we'd be walking home together like we did after every band occasion. She went to talk to the rest of her tenor sax buddies, so I went with her. I wasn't really listening to what they were saying; I was focusing too intently on my lack of blood sugar.

They started walking off the field, and I followed, figuring Amanda and I would go home. We didn't. Losing three members of the original group of seven, we walked to her section mate's car. That felt like it took forever. I know, it was me being dramatic and hungry. But still!

Then I figured that Jeff would drive us home, but we ended up going to Denny's, where the three members of the section we had lost joined us again. I was okay with this. I was thirsty and hungry, and I just couldn't take it any longer! I ordered food.
Over the meal, we discussed many things; historical figures, racism, food, fake coconut and why is it blue? And, most importantly, the fact that I just fit in a lot better with them than with my section.

"Why don't you switch?" Austin, one of the section leaders, asked.

"Me? Switch from mellophone to tenor sax? Is that even possible?" I was incredulous. Switch from a brass instrument that I played impeccably to a woodwind that I had never even touched before? I couldn't.

"Yeah, why not?" Jeff asked, "I mean, there were five people who didn't know how to play last year."

"Two of them are back this year." Austin added.

"I did play clarinet for three-and-a-half years..." I mused.

"See? You've got a leg up on those guys. It's pretty much the same, except for one fingering." Austin said.

"So you guys really want me to do this?" I asked. No one else had really been participating in the conversation, only watching. But then Kyle spoke up. Not the Kyle I had mentioned previously, a different Kyle in the same section. That Kyle was at the soccer game still.

"Dude, yeah. You're pretty cool."

"And it's always been a dream of ours to have our own tenor bus." Austin thought out loud. "This would put us one person closer!"

"I don't know, let me think about it." I said. I didn't want to betray my mellophone section just like that.

"Fine. But think fast." Jeff warned.

I laughed. "I'll try."

We talked about more things for another fifteen minutes or so, when the topic came up again.

"When would I even start? I can't really on this game, can I?" I speculated, more to myself than anyone else.

"No, but we could ask Chris for an instrument. Don will be fine with it as long as you're actually staying in the band. They'd hate you if you quit. But you're not even considering that." Austin answered. "You'd probably start at the next game."

"And my pre-game spot? I'd have to stay there, wouldn't I?"

"Unfortunately, yes. We can't exactly write a new pre-game show." Jeff answered for me.

"I just feel like the mellophones would hate me for it." I said.

"So?" said Jeff, Kyle, and Austin together.

"They're all drama anyway," Austin said. "Next thing you know, they'll all be dating each other then hating each other because of it."

"There IS a lot of drama with them..." I admitted. One of the reasons I liked the tenors much better.

We started another new topic after my admission. Though not long after another thought occurred to me.

"Dude. I'd be making my dad's lifelong dream of me playing the saxophone come true!" I exclaimed. I hadn't meant to, but it was true. My dad had always wanted me to play the saxophone, and by switching, even in marching band, I would be realizing that dream.

Everyone looked back at me, puzzled.

"Sorry... I think out loud sometimes." I stated, somewhat timidly.

"We noticed." Jeff said, though not meanly, as others in my current section probably would have.

"That's cool, though," Austin said, suddenly seeing that he could use this to his advantage. "You should make your dad proud."

And that was it. It was decided.
I will be switching from mellophone to tenor sax officially next week.

I'm still really nervous about my section, though. I just don't want Kendra, Nikki, or Shelby to lose respect for me. I want to stay Shelby's favorite, and Kendra's good friend.

But I want more to do my father proud.

I will not number my posts.

But I was definitely thinking about it! "First Post. Second Post. Third Post..." And on and on. But that would be stupid.

No, nothing's happened. I just went to Walmart today and bought a bunch of junk food. I'm a big fan of junk food.
Oh, I also bought bananas.
And Cup of Noodle.
And popsicles.
That's really all though, really.

I'm sorry I'm so uninteresting. And yes, I know I'm apologizing to no one. Because no one reads my blog yet. But I like the idea that someone may be reading this, even if they aren't.

First Post.

I just needed somewhere to go where I could write down my thoughts semi-anonymously and still have them read without people actually caring about what's going on in my life.
A blog seems like the perfect place.

So I'm not going to do introductions. I hope you don't mind. I'll tell you that my favorite color is turquoise, I attend WSU, and I'm a Seahawks fan, but other than that, nothing.
You'll get to know me eventually.

So being at college, as a freshman, only knowing (maybe) five other people, it's a little overwhelming. I'm meeting new people every day. One of those people just so happened to be Kyle. I met him at band camp. He plays the tenor saxophone and is probably not the most attractive guy in the band, but I don't care. He's cute and seems to have a good sense of humor, plus he plays one of my favorite instruments, so he's alright by me.

I swear, I'm going crazy.
I know that this can't possibly be true, because what would he, a section leader senior, want with me, a lowly freshman who, you know, can't even find her way around campus without a map, but I keep feeling like he's looking at me. And I know, I know. I said it already, probably not happening. But I feel like it is, so I'm keeping this on here.

Anyway, the other day, as Amanda, also in his section, and I were walking home, barely past the gate of the practice field, he spoke to us.
"Hey, you guys want a ride?"

I looked at Amanda, and she looked at me. I said, "Do you really feel like walking with these heavy instruments?"

"God no."

"Sure, we'll take a ride!" I called back.

He told me that I'd have to hold my instrument, because there was just not enough room in the trunk, but I was okay with that. I'd rather hold it in a car than in my hand. I'm forming calluses on my formerly pillow-soft hands! I don't like it at all!

He spoke again, "Where do you guys live?"

Did my ears deceive me? Did he offer us a ride without knowing where we lived? Was he willing to go way out of the way to drive us home? And was it me that he was doing it for, or was it Amanda? Or was he just a genuinely nice guy?
I didn't particularly care at that point. I was in his car.

I spoke up. "We live in the North tower of Stephenson."

"Oh, that's perfect. She lives in Orton, and he lives in Waller." He said, gesturing to the other two passengers of the car.

"Awesome." I said.

And thus concludes the epic of Kyle's car. 'Twas rather epic, no?

Yeah, I know. I'm completely insane. But I would never have it any other way.