MISSISSIPPI,... yes that's how you spell it!

Some of these States have the most peculiar spelling! Mississippi is one of them. I also think Massachusetts is high up on that list!

A day of rehearsal today,... but what a night this was!
We had left Lafayette around midnight... as usual we're the LAST corps to pull out of the parking lot!
We usually don't get to go to the bathroom in between snack and departure so our first stop is always about 20 minutes down the road at a truck stop and freshen up, buy something to eat an/or drink... or better yet: ICECREAM!
We got back on the road,... and then the shit hit the fan.
Phone calls back and forth between Sheryl and Pete.
Apparently there was a problem with "The Hound" , one of the member buses. A water hose in the engine snapped, and forced them to stay where they were. That meant all members on that bus were divided over the two other two member buses, and the motor home (which was travelling with them) and they all came to where we were at. This was about 30 miles ahead of them.

It was little after 3AM when they arrived. We got an extra 16 members on our staff bus. They LOVED it. "This is awesome!" some of them said. We had about 5 bunks available in the back, since the drivers wouldn't get back to bed until we got to Hattiesburg. Then the rest found a place in the front of the bus on the couches or even on the floor. Unfortunately they didn't get to watch TV or anything, because lights were switched off shortly after we left. It sounded like they were having a great time though! Lots of laughter from the front of the bus for the next hour or so.

This whole inconvenience surprisingly didn't put us much behind schedule. Breakfast was only an hour later than originally planned (11 instead of 10). Everyone had to turn in their uniform at breakfast, because it was time they were washed agein. Last night when I was in the tunnel at the stadium and the corps walked by there was this distinctive smell of BO! Yes... definitely time for a laundromat!

The color guard warmed up and had their rehearsal right next to the food truck, and horns and drums were scattered across the school premises.
We made lasagna for dinner, and two separate alternatives for the vegetarians and the vegans. Oh,.. and another little dish for Ben, who has like the worst allergies ever!
When he marched we used to look at every single label on the packages to make sure there wasn't anything in the food that might killl him.

We lost our transportation (and at the same time our air-conditioned place to sit on the few breaks we take) for a few hours tonight when the uniforms were taken to a laundromat. They were gone much longer than last time. Don't know why. Had to put my bags and shower necessities inside the school building, because we had some serious rainfall tonight. The corps was out on the field and I don't think they ever really stopped.

Kelly (who usually works the souvie trailer) brought me a new bottle of Captain Morgan Spiced Rum while they were out doing the uniforms.
I will be good for the next couple of days!

Lights out, so everyone is in bed. At least that's what we think....
We're sitting in The Nest having a couple of drinks.
Will try and get online again tomorrow.

Enjoy,

HK