Rejoice, O Highly Favored The Readers
Sunday, July 17, 2011 at 9:09PM Previously on YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG:
- Jason The Ridiculously Young Drum Major terrifies me
- As does Matt The Badass
- As does Kyle The Assistant
- JD Who Gots Game of D Row fame, not so much
All right: Which of you went to Columbus and pressed your very sad and pathetic little faces up against the newlywed home of Alex Who Talks Real Pretty? For he has permitted himself to be moved, and you have somehow merited the following missive from His Talks Real Prettiness.
But before the hazelnut gateau rasberry torte of Alex, you must first suffer an entree of my learning disability-level struggles with pre-strutting. Many of you have been asking after my severe wall-kicking problems, and Jason The Ridiculously Awesome Drum Major diagnosed them thusly last night via Facebook chat, when I asked "I'm doing it wrong, aren't I?":
"Very wrong."
...Oh.
So let's have ourse
Husbands, love your wives, and twirl your baton at your wedding reception (Ephesians 5:25)lves a bit of an Alexpalooza, complete with visual aids from his wedding reception, courtesy of Claudia The Campus Sister, low lighting, an even lower ceiling, her cell phone, and perhaps a Shirley Temple or two from the open bar and the Drum Major table positioned conveninetly next to it:
Hello,
The strut lesson is coming. This is a great time in the DM world. Summer sessions are going strong and over the next two weeks we will transition from the ramp and sloopy* being something the kids watch to something the kids themselves are expected to perform with the band. Kids in this case referring to everyone below Kyle in rank. This is also the time of year where I start to put Jason and Kyle under the microscope. Since the 7th grade Jason has been one of my favorite students to work with and so in a way this summer is a last hurrah for me as an advisor/coach. Next year he and I settle into our permanent relationship of fellow alumni and good friends.
For my part I have been quiet lately for a few reasons. This is a wedding heavy summer (not just because of my own) and I have quite a few to go to. Also the new wife and I are trying to purchase a house and out of the blue I was offered a new job. I accepted and am really excited about the new career path I am about to begin.
Your first glimpse of the new Mrs. 54-- the lovely Emily, she of the flugelhorn.Enough of boring me though back to some more DM stuff! The other night Jason performed Sloopy twice with the OSUMB vets for all of those attending summer sessions who have never been in the band. He rocked it of course; there were many jumps in which the baton did various things which it never seemed to want to do for me as DM, as well as a backflip, a cartwheel high toss, some flat bounces** with his right and left hand (very difficult/risky), and maybe even a shoulder cha-cha-cha thrown in for a sense of style. Bottom line, 57*** has skill, style, and class and showed everyone at summer sessions a sneak peak of the great things to come. At the end of the night he gave a speech and it was fun to look at all the band hopefuls who seem to view him as this completely unnapproachable person.****
The Drum Major is a unique place for adjectives to converge... popular, larger than life, exciting, confident... and at the same time... pressured, lonely, and resigned to their fate.***** Never a position to disparage its lot in life or whinge about its sacrifices, in the end, its a college kid who wonders if this will be the biggest moment in their life. The question I ask myself to this day is, how do you handle that? How do you handle a vice president walking into a job interview singing the song we march script ohio to? Jason already knows the answer.
A combination of skill, style, and class.
-54
OFFICIAL BLONDE CHAMPAGNE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY MARCHING BAND-TO-ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
*"Hang on Sloopy," the official rock song of the state of Ohio and an OSUMB trademark.
**Yeah, I... don't know what this is.
***Our Jason is the 57th Drum Major.
****And he is to be feared.
*****Alex talks real pretty!
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Reader Comments (149)
SQUUUUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE WEDDING PICTURRRRRREEEEES!
Emily is beautiful, I love her dress!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We heartily approve of the appearance of our leader.
a beautiful bride and handsome groom to be sure
and maybe even a shoulder cha-cha-cha thrown in for a sense of style
(swooooooooooooons)
He Who Talks Real Pretty refuses to be captured by mere light-based technology.
LOL, here is a FB post from MB:
GUIDE FOR TODAY'S CONCORD AND LEXINGTON TOUR: At this point, the inhabitants of Massachusetts were suspicious of anyone they saw in a red coat with white pants and a big hat with a tall feather.
ME: That has been my experience * exactly *.
TOUR GUIDE: ....
(crying because there is no video of The Drum Major Formerly Known As Jason The Ridiculously Young Drum Major rocking it)
Miss Belle, were you at the wedding?
That last paragraph is extra-sweet. Thanks 54, we all really enjoy your perspective.
At this point, the inhabitants of Massachusetts were suspicious of anyone they saw in a red coat with white pants and a big hat with a tall feather.
hahahaha, even after 6 months of staring at those uniforms I NEEEEEVER made that connection!
You redcoats you!
Campus Sister Photography Inc FTW
some flat bounces
Is it another term for a palm bounce maybe?
that wedding looks like it was a total party
"I was offered a new job"
Rupert Murdoch's companies seem to have several sudden openings
"Very wrong."
hahahahahaha, Jason says in two words what MB did in a 700-word post
"How do you handle a vice president walking into a job interview singing the song we march script ohio to?"
Hi 54, we all really love it when you show up!!!!! Did this actually happen to you?!
"Miss Belle, were you at the wedding?"
Good heavens, no. These two cats are WAY smarter than that. All my wedding-related gossip issued directly from the Campus Sister.
It's just as well. Emily was a stunning bride, as you see here, and I probably would have been bitter and jealous the entire night contrasting my own bridal appearance. She is gorgeous and on my big day I looked like I rolled out of bed all, "Wha-- wedding?" and grabbed the nearest 5 year old girl to do my hair because I liked what she did on her Barbie.
thank you so much for taking the time to share this, Alex!
OK there's got to be video out there somewhere of this alleged ground-floor bounce.
All right, 54, now that we've got your attention again-- ;)
first things first, congratulations on you marriage and new job and for helping to shape such amazing DMs. We all very much like getting to know you, especially since we get to see in your own words what you are like. I think part of the "destiny feeling" that a lot of us The Readers get from this project of our Fair Webmistress' is that there is now a man of letters on board who understands perhaps a bit better than the others what MB is doing here. You can provide ideas in ways the other guys cannot.
Do you think she is effective at writing about the Band and what it is like to be a DM (from what you have seen so far anyway)? What does she do well and what should she do better/more of/less of? (that last part was for you MB, you're welcome)
Is this the Alumni Band? Did you lead them into the wedding Mr 54? Way Cool.
"I think part of the "destiny feeling" that a lot of us The Readers get from this project of our Fair Webmistress' is that there is now a man of letters on board who understands perhaps a bit better than the others what MB is doing here. You can provide ideas in ways the other guys cannot."
Wow-- great point Io and question to follow this.
"Did you lead them into the wedding Mr 54?"
You mean down the aisle with the baton?!
(that last part was for you MB, you're welcome)
LOL!
((((Alex and all DMs)))))
My favorite part of Claudia's picture of 54 is that she seems to have used the baton and not him as the centerpoint. I guess that's standard when photographing a Drum Major in action.
A combination of skill, style, and class.
See, even when it's not about Jason The Ridiculously Awesome... it is in fact about Jason The Ridiculously Awesome. That's life when you're Ridiculously Awesome.
See, even when it's not about Jason The Ridiculously Awesome... it is in fact about Jason The Ridiculously Awesome.
Shut up bitches and look at Claudia's picture. It's all about ME.
"OK there's got to be video out there somewhere of this alleged ground-floor bounce."
I think you mean ground-ceiling bounce, and now that I understand how close together they were the whole thing becomes more believable. But still yeah I'd like to see vid proof of that!
You mean down the aisle with the baton?!
Heh, no, at the reception. I've been to a couple of weddings where 2 alums got married in town and a little Alumni Band comes in complete with a drum major leading the way. I was just wondering if Alex did this for his own reception. That would be awesome.
Hello
To answer a few of the questions and give a few of the observations from my perspective...
I did not lead the band into my reception. Jason led the band into the reception, with my baton. How he got my baton, which was leaning against the wall at my house when I left that morning is still a mystery. It was a good stick though, the same one I twirled at the Notre Dame Fiesta Bowl.
Here is a picture of the Alumni Drum Major's in attendance at the wedding: http://www.myers-photos.com/store/index.php?do=photocart&viewImage=108786
In the back you have Jason, Josh, Emily, Me, and Eric. In front you have Greg and Shelly.
And a great moment with my Drum Major Coach Greg: http://www.myers-photos.com/store/index.php?do=photocart&viewImage=108787
Jason leading in the band: http://www.myers-photos.com/store/index.php?do=photocart&viewImage=108902
This is everyone who was at the wedding who was in the Band: http://www.myers-photos.com/store/index.php?do=photocart&viewImage=108964
Emily was in C-Row so a lot of the people who are in the picture who are not drum major's are former C-Row members. C-Row has some of its own traditions as well which we had to adhere to, it was afterall the marraige of two rows.
---------------------------------------
I think she is as effective at writing about what its like being DM as someone is who writes about what it is like to be President of the United States. I can read about the daily life and decisions, but the weight of those decisions never falls on me as a reader. I can understand the pressure, but I sit detached, able to analyze decisions which were made in the heat of a moment and I never have to feel that pressure. I see the perks and they are amazing, but they are also unnattainable to me.
So I think MB chooses the path with the fewest land mines. She writes about her perspective on us. She discusses the why's and how's of the decisions we have made, but she doesn't question us for making the decisions. Scientists approach things in a manner of observation where they try to limit the effect they have on the observation itself. MB has made no bones about wanting to be in the thick of it to try and get as close to the nitty gritty as she can. Its not my place to judge her anymore than it is her place to judge me. It is her task to interact, to record, and with luck entertain.
54
The strut lesson is coming.
Uh, Alex?
...I think she needs help NOW, bra.
I think Alex is handsome :)
I have been to a few weddings which were graced with the presence of the The Best Damn Band in the Land as well. It was always enjoyable, memorable, and very moving.
...I think she needs help NOW, bra.
+ infinity
Everybody hit the Pay Pal tag. We need to build an airline fund to fly Jason, Alex, Stew, Josh, and The Badass into Boston for strut triage.
"In the back you have Jason, Josh, Emily, Me, and Eric. In front you have Greg and Shelly."
Wait, who's Eric? Who's Shelley? Is Greg the same Greg of the Infamous Bleacher Incident?
He Who Talks Real Pretty's knowledge leaves me far behind and I am frightened!
GIRLS!!
MATT AND JASON AND JOSH WEARING! SUITS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love you, Alex, for getting married so as to provide these momentous photographs!
P.S. You look good too.
Jason leading in the band
If you look at ANY picture on the Internet AT ALL today, look at this one. It's AMAZING. He looks AWESOME.
they are wearing suits and ties and dancing....!
"It is her task to interact, to record, and with luck entertain."
Uh.... damn.
You writing this down, Tink? YOU GET THAT?!
" think Alex is handsome :)"
I agree :)
Jason led the band into the reception, with my baton.
That's still pretty sweet, though-- I bet not a lot of people can say they had the current DM do their wedding!
Thanks for answering my question, 54. Sounds like some great memories.
ooooowwwwww, I need to hold my ears in this thread from all the squealing wimmenfolk
Jason leading in the band
I wish I had a locker just so I could put this picture in it
"And a great moment with my Drum Major Coach Greg"
This is Greg Eyer, right? Who coaches the other DMs and D-Row?
"ooooowwwwww, I need to hold my ears in this thread from all the squealing wimmenfolk"
No kidding. You girls always get the eye candy. The men demand full-color photos of MB bending over in her tank top for recompense!
"Scientists approach things in a manner of observation where they try to limit the effect they have on the observation itself."
I hereby proclaim 54, Alex The Hilarious for using MB and "scientist" in the same paragraph.
THe pictures don't end there, kids. There's drinking and dancing on the later pages.
I've heard of alums having this done at weddings but never seen it. Maybe I will do it at mine someday :)
Congratulations Alex!
We keep asking this, but it still applies...
where's Stew?!