Date: Fri 10-Jan-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

Diary-Jen-Fendt-NHS-Band

Full Text:

Drum Liner's Diary: Highlights From A Band Member's Journal

B Y D OROTHY E VANS

Newtown High School senior and second bass drum player Jen Fendt kept a daily

journal during the band's holiday trip to Orlando, December 27 to January 1.

The following excerpts offer a glimpse of what life on the road was like for

Newtown band members. Despite their rigorous schedule, it is clear the

students found plenty of time to enjoy each other and their surroundings -

ever mindful of the important things, such as when and where they might find

food.

Friday, December 27, Traveling And Settling In:

The day started at 4:15 am.

We got on the bus to go to the Newark Airport at 5:30 am, then went to "Joe's"

Coffee Shop and finally boarded the plane [for Orlando] at 9:40 am. We landed

at 12:30 pm.

We met the rest of the band at 5 pm to get on the bus going to the Florida

mall to get dinner and walk around until 7 pm. Then we took the buses back to

the [Airport Marriott] hotel for practice.

Our two-hour rehearsal went well. Drum line practiced all our signals for the

parade tomorrow. It wasn't the best practice for us but a bad practice usually

leads to a great performance.

After putting my drum away and a pep talk, my roommates and I went to the

snack shop and stocked up on chips and sodas.

We just set the alarm for 6:30 am. Good night!

Saturday, December 28, Citrus Bowl Parade & MGM Studios:

At 6:30 am we woke up and got our uniforms and instruments ready.

At 8:15 am drum line met to load our equipment on the bus, then at 8:30 am we

left for the parade in Orlando. We waited for half an hour 'til "stepping

off." The route only took about 20 minutes.

At 2:30 pm we were off to MGM studios!

While there, we went around with our friends. The most popular rides were:

"The Tower of Terror," "The Star Tours," and the "Muppets" in 3D. Then, to end

the evening, MGM had a music and fireworks display called "Sorcery in the

Sky."

We were back at the bus at 11:15 pm and then to the hotel. The hotel had pizza

and soda we could buy, so my roommates and I got some.

Sunday, December 29, Magic Kingdom & Disney Parade:

We met for breakfast at 8 am today in the hotel lobby. After breakfast we

loaded the buses at 9 am with our drums and headed out to Disney. It took a

half an hour to get to the Magic Kingdom.

Two members of our drum line, Floyd and Josh, got to join in on the mariachi

band that was playing in front of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" ride.

The rides we liked most were, "Space Mountain," "Thunder Mountain Railroad,"

"Splash Mountain" and "Alien Encounter," one of the newer additions. And of

course, there were the old favorites: "Mr Toad's Wild Ride," "Peter Pan,"

"It's a Small World" and "The Haunted Mansion."

[Getting ready for the parade] it was incredibly hot in our wool uniforms.

None of us were used to it, since it was about 20 degrees F. in Connecticut

when we left. We warmed up in our designated area and Mr Zamary tried his

hardest to keep us cool.

We had to march in reduced form to fit through the packed crowds of Disney. It

was neat being in the parade instead of watching it, like in previous years.

At the end, we went backstage where the Disney people had water for us, which

was much appreciated. Then we changed and saw all our childhood favorites,

such as Winnie the Pooh, Chip and Dale and B'rer Fox.

After the fireworks show, we met at the floral Mickey at 10:30 pm, where we

caught the ferry back to our bus and the hotel.

My roommate and I made phone calls to the ones we love in Connecticut. We

picked up pizza and soda and headed up to our room.

Monday, December 30, Kennedy Space Center, Cocoa Beach, King Henry's Feast:

At the Space Center we saw the IMAX film, "The Dream Is Alive." A new

experience for us was eating space dots, which is ice cream of the future.

After boarding the bus for an hour at Cocoa Beach, we came back to the hotel

by 4 pm and rested up for King Henry's Feast.

They sat us down in a huge medieval-like hall. The rules of the night were

that the men will serve the ladies. The jester ran the show and Mr Zamary got

picked to dance in a skirt and a pretty little bonnet. Dr Bob, a friend on our

trip, got picked to help the sword juggler.

We got back to our hotel at 9:30 where we unwound and thought of the day

ahead.

Tuesday, December 31, Epcot:

My friends and I got a map and decided where to go first. We went to "Body

Wars," "Figment," "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience" and, of course, we visited

all the different countries.

Being in Epcot seemed like we were taking another vacation around the world.

Me and my roomies finally got to see Mickey and Minnie so our trip was

complete.

We used our dinner tickets at a restaurant called "The Electric Umbrella".

The park had DJs set up at each corner of a fountain so we were able to

celebrate on New Year's Eve. We all danced and awaited the countdown for the

New Year. When it came time, we all headed toward the center of Epcot, where

the amazing "illuminations" would begin. At midnight I hugged my friends and

wished them the best for the year ahead. It felt good to be with everyone, the

band had worked hard and, hopefully, it will pay off for the upcoming year.

We loaded the bus at 12:30 am to crash at our hotel. We had a great time but

were tuckered out and needed sleep.

Wednesday, January 1, Sea World and Going Home:

Today they let us sleep until 9 am. Usually, this would be early for a

vacation - but for this one, it was a miracle!

Stepping into Sea World, we could instantly smell the "lovely" fish aroma. We

saw the manatees, dolphins, sharks, whales ("Shamoo!") and an assortment of

fish. We went into many gift shops with plenty of Sea World memorabilia.

Then flight #3 went to the airport at 6 pm. The flight took about two hours.

We took the bus back to school, arriving about 2 am [January 2].

I exchanged hugs with my roomies and went home.

- By Jen Fendt