4.20.04

Almost heaven, West Virginia...

Hey! Well its been about a week since I've written in here. We went to Washington DC for our choir trip this past weekend. So I'll fill you in on how my trip went!!! ... Thursday morning, we got to South at 7:30, Mrs.McClain took roll and then we rehearsed for a bit. I talked to Seth on my cell phone for a little bit then we left the school and drove up to DC. around 8. We got there probably around 4 or so, checked in to the hotel, got changed into nice clothes and went to Toby's Dinner Theatre for dinner and to see Cats. The food wasn't that great, but the show was good, its the first time I've ever seen it. Then got back kind of late and went to bed. ... Friday morning we got up, ate breakfast, and then went into downtown DC. We went sight-seeing that morning and saw all the monuments and memorials. That was actually my favorite part. I especially liked the Lincoln memorial, and the Washington monument was cool too, especially with the reflecting pond there. Then we ate lunch at the ESPN zone, then went to the Washington National Cathedral. There is only about one word to describe it...breathtaking. I mean that place is huge! And everything is so amazing, all the details from the elaborate stain-glass windows, to the archetecture and the alters. It was really awesome. We got to even sing in one of the rooms in the crypt (the basement of the cathedral). We sang Lux, a latin piece and holy cow it sounded awesome, just the resonance we got in that room was amazing. Then, we went to the Smithsonian museums. We didn't have much time, our group only went to the American History one. Some of the stuff was really cool, but I didn't like how the museum was organized. But after that we went to Union Station, which is like a little mall and ate dinner. Then back to the hotel we went, we found a room to rehearse some, then we went back to our rooms, I called Seth and talked to him for a while and my mom called my dad then we went to bed. On Saturday we got up and ate breakfast and went to Lanier Middle School for the competition and spent the day there pretty much. All 3 of South's choirs competed, the Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, and Madrigals. That evening we went back to the hotel, had dinner there and the awards assembly was there. We had a clean sweep... All 3 of the choirs got 1st place in their category and gold ratings (meaning an average score of 90-100, the highest). Plus we got the sweepstakes trophy for having scores of 95 and up averaged from two groups, the trophy for the best overall in the vocal categories, and two adjuticators awards. So yea it was really awesome. The best part was when we finished getting all the stuff, they played "Country Roads". It was great, I was like so close to tears... good tears though!!! Then I came up, we called my grandma, dad, and then I called Seth, and then I went back down to the dance they had after the awards, then to bed. Sunday we got up and headed to Baltimore and visited the National Aquarium and the harbor and ate lunch then headed on home. We got back around 10:30, later than expected because of traffic and stuff. But yea it was a lot of fun, and I'm so glad we did well. Mrs.McClain was and is very proud. ;) Of course we didn't get much if any recognition from the school. Which bothers me. The football and basketball and soccer teams win championships and they get pep rallys and assemblys and all kinds of stuff. But yet we put forth just as much hard work, committment, and dedication, and we get a little announcement on the school news and a little article in the paper. Yea, not that great. But it's ok I'm proud of it, and I'm really going to miss being in South's choir and Mrs.McClain and all the kids in choir. I still wish I had another year!!!

Ok well I'd write more but I have to go eat and then I'm going to clogging for a bit, then to a chamber performance. TTFN!!!

~Melissa

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