Snowy Saturday
Dear Reader, We received a pretty nasty surprise on Saturday after a relatively warm morning band rehearsal. After dressing up for about 45 degree (and dry) weather, the winds picked up and it started raining, just in time for us to march out and perform. Dr. Mack slipped and fell on the concrete outside of Legacy Hall, but he was ok. After we marched to the stadium, we huddled underneath the bleachers, by this time it was around 40 with the same rain and wind. Unfortunately, we still had pregame, so we marched out and then it started pouring right when we played the Alma Mater. The sleet came in during the national anthem, and Mr. Sullivan was so miserable looking while he conducted us. I could see the pain in his semi-bald head as he was getting pelted with rain, sleet, and wind with no hat on. As we ran off the field to seek cover, we tried to warm up some more, and they sent us out after 15 minutes.
I was personally warm enough, except for my fingers, which were freezing while holding a metal instrument through paper-thin black gloves. At the beginning of the second quarter, the winds became somewhat lighter, it got a lot colder, and a few Reno locals were saying that it was about to snow. After a couple years here, the weather can be predicted about 15 minutes in advance without any scientific measurements or models, so I agreed with them and told people to get ready. Sure enough, it started snowing, and then the winds picked up. Now around 30 degrees, we had accumulating snow and wind that bit through our already soaked clothes. Then came halftime.
As we all huddled around each other to stay as warm as possible, we started singing Christmas carols and catching snowflakes on our tongues. Sure, college can still be silly, but the prerequesite remains: you must be in band to do it without fear of reprisal. Marching the Boston show was extra difficult in the cold. Almost all the woodwinds couldn't play because either their reeds were frozen or their hands couldn't feel the keys. Even with a trombone, where I could make fists and still move my slide, it was tough to play with the mouthpiece numbing my lips and my hands painfully numb. After halftime, Mr. Sullivan took the entire band to the sports medicine complex. A few people had pretty intense hypothermia and were in tears because they couldn't control their shivering and breathing. After warming my hands, I was ok so I helped some people warm up by rubbing their hands in mine and putting their gloves in the microwave. The weather started to clear up so we went out and finished the game. Our team won 42-0 and on Monday, a considerable amount of people were sick.
I was lucky, so after the game I had chinese food with my fraternity brothers. Even that was eventful...our province workshop was last weekend, so 3 other chapters were in town with us, and the president of the Sinfonia Foundation was here. I found out that he was on Jeopardy after recognizing his face from the last episode...he's won 2 shows so far. We chatted, and it was great to hear all his stories with exact facts, including dates, without any hesitation in his voice. It would be nice to be that smart. After dinner, we went to play some games at Dr. Mack's house. Risk and Crainium were the main features. All in all, a good day.
I was personally warm enough, except for my fingers, which were freezing while holding a metal instrument through paper-thin black gloves. At the beginning of the second quarter, the winds became somewhat lighter, it got a lot colder, and a few Reno locals were saying that it was about to snow. After a couple years here, the weather can be predicted about 15 minutes in advance without any scientific measurements or models, so I agreed with them and told people to get ready. Sure enough, it started snowing, and then the winds picked up. Now around 30 degrees, we had accumulating snow and wind that bit through our already soaked clothes. Then came halftime.
As we all huddled around each other to stay as warm as possible, we started singing Christmas carols and catching snowflakes on our tongues. Sure, college can still be silly, but the prerequesite remains: you must be in band to do it without fear of reprisal. Marching the Boston show was extra difficult in the cold. Almost all the woodwinds couldn't play because either their reeds were frozen or their hands couldn't feel the keys. Even with a trombone, where I could make fists and still move my slide, it was tough to play with the mouthpiece numbing my lips and my hands painfully numb. After halftime, Mr. Sullivan took the entire band to the sports medicine complex. A few people had pretty intense hypothermia and were in tears because they couldn't control their shivering and breathing. After warming my hands, I was ok so I helped some people warm up by rubbing their hands in mine and putting their gloves in the microwave. The weather started to clear up so we went out and finished the game. Our team won 42-0 and on Monday, a considerable amount of people were sick.
I was lucky, so after the game I had chinese food with my fraternity brothers. Even that was eventful...our province workshop was last weekend, so 3 other chapters were in town with us, and the president of the Sinfonia Foundation was here. I found out that he was on Jeopardy after recognizing his face from the last episode...he's won 2 shows so far. We chatted, and it was great to hear all his stories with exact facts, including dates, without any hesitation in his voice. It would be nice to be that smart. After dinner, we went to play some games at Dr. Mack's house. Risk and Crainium were the main features. All in all, a good day.