Music Retreat!

so, today i got home from the BEST music event all year. That's right, the Grade 9 Retreat. This was my FOURTH one!!! wow... i've been to alot of them (esp. cus we got to go in grade 8), and its always been fun, but this year has to top them all. They just keep getting better and better!! This year, i was again a music councillor, but also an instrument specialist, which was interesting to say the least. All in all, even through the misbehaviour that almost drove me insane, it was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
It all started out at 6 oclock am, on the bus! oh my goodness, talk about tired. then we got there... you know, set up with lots of time, and then the kids came, and i was like high 5-ing them as they came in, and i got the worst "are you crazy looks" but i get them alot, so no difference there! the sessions were good, i was glued to red band, so i had to sit through their sectional with this guy from the past 3 years, and this year it seemed even mroe basic, and the niners commented on it too... all he talked about was like "don't sit with your legs crossed... blah blah." really elementary stuff that they already know... but yeah, i had to suffer through it. although he was good and all, and we appreciate him coming, it was a little dull.
the rest of the day was great, band rehearsals, sectionals, lunch (7 hours without food!! SO HUNGRY), practicing for the lip sync, chillin in cedar... and THEN we get to the team building stuff.
our group was absolutely amazing. NO complaints. there were obvious leaders within the group, but they were really good at drawing the quiet kids in. Everything went really smoothly. my hats off to my team mates, Caitlin, Tamara and Serena. Even with our little organization, we still delivered like we knew what was going on! it was a positive experience for all. too bad that can't be said for all the groups. i feel really bad for Stef's group.
Then it was dinner, and then off to free time and the square dance. Alicia and I went to wait for the guy, and we waited for probably more than half an hour. we signed the guest book, and then we went to the pay phone and figured out that it would cost 3.55 to call home, yet 3.60 to call montreal. we also called various 1-800 numbers, including jenny craig, alarm force, itravel 2000, some random translation one, which turned out to be a real person, so all he heard was "OH SHIT, HANG UP THE PHONE!" which was highly hilarious, but not as hilarious as when we called a phone sex line... lol the conversation started as "i'm taking off my bra now..." and then we chickened out and hung up... lol it was ALOT of fun just sitting there calling random numbers, and getting caught by Mrs Marlatt. ha ha it was great.
FINALLY, the square dance guy came, and we could begin, but this year there was definitely more standing, and less dancing. that may be what caused him to get upset(oh boy did he), cus the kids who weren't dancing were talking, can you blame them!? i mean yes, they were a more rowdy bunch than normal, but the other years included ALOT more dance, and less instruction, and the kids were happier about that. i was a little dissappointed. and also, apparently they were not told to bring anything western (my bro was oblivious), so there were few people dressed up...
later, they had the drum player who gave the motivational talk did a drum circle. i wanted to go, but we needed to practice, but i saw some of it, and it was absolutely amazing, especially since everyone got some sort of percussion toy. i really liked it.
THEN, the best part!! The music council talent show!! it was ALOT better than what i remember from previous years, maybe that's just me. alot more random skits that were hilarious, coupled with musical performances. too bad we had to stop during Stanley/Cat's solo... rowdy niners. the Lip Sync was FANTABULOUS! we really got hem excited, and our dancing was great. lol i love my green boa. we then had the play, the movie theatre one again, and i was the psycho mother AGAIN. somehow i remember it being funnier last year, but it was still REALLY funny. ALl the music in between the acts was also a nice touch, it got them out of their chairs, so they weren't sitting for too too long.
then it was beddy bies for the niners, and partay time for us. we stayed up late reading cosmos, goofing off, and just talking. it was fun. no wild spin the bottle games from last year, which was ok by me. I also didn't wake up next to anyone strange, which was an added bonus.
the second day was good. i had to run the master classes, and i worked with teh red band, and they slowly lost interest... but their attention span was like 5 seconds, so 30 minutes was pretty good. the green band sectional was, i'm not going to lie, fun, but definitely NOT appropriate for what we were supposed to do. its just htat someone had an idea, and it was like my way or the high way, and i didn't want to be like "ok...i'm the one in charge here, and we're going to do what we were told to do" not only that, but just like... ugh... too many things to say about that that many people should not read, so i'll keep it to this: although the outcome of the sectional was good, i still hold firm to my belief that we should have worked on band pieces, rather than talked.
after that, was the concert, which was really good. fun in the back row! we then had lunch and packed up a bit, then outside for pictures!! we walked down to the water to take pics, and walked back. Alot of random fun moments there (and all over), and then we took group pics, and the niners left. we then finished clean up, and went on the bus, where ppl commandeered my DVDs and i read... trying not to fall asleep.
it was alot of fun. not too many people got on my nerves, and i really got closer with different people, like people outside of my comfort group. and KATHERINE was the bestest roomie ever!! it was ALOT of fun during the day, i don't remember it being that randomly fun last year, but maybe becuase i appreciate it now... who knows.
after school, i had Church Street and the LEAD social. both were good. very tired. the car ride home was a different story. too much hipocrisy for my liking. then claire and i delivered our Halloween for Hunger thingies. it was a really good day(with a few minor exceptions)
PAULINE COMES HOME TONIGHT.(maybe i can see her this time!)
until next time...