We've searched every crook and nanny

Well, just about every one.

The trip down to Cedar City was most excelent. Thursday morning we loaded up the equipment at the school and then headed out. We did not stop in Nephi. Rather, we stopped in Scipio where the gas prices are high. Diego provided provender in the form of donuts and Capri Sun and bagels and Red Vines. Mmm. We had a couple of Talkabout
walkie-talkies between the two cars (Diego and Cory drove) which provided much entertainment. There was much quoting of movies and Homestar along the way, as well as other assorted randomness.

When we arrived in Cedar City we stopped at Julie's parents' house and unloaded our gear and just sat around for a while. Then we headed over to Cedar City High to set up. As we were driving up to the high school we passed a high embankment on which were growing several trees - some of them dead ones. Cory's car, which had recently been damaged by a vicious charging canine, was nearly damaged again as we watched a small funnel cloud materialize just long enough to pick up lots of dust... and a dead tree - and set it down none too gently on the road right in front the C-mobile. It was the coolest thing (both to see it and the fact that no one died) - quite a welcome to the town.

The band director over there is incredibly organized and was very helpful in getting stuff set up. We did a couple of run-throughs and even tried on a couple of songs for size that we didn't end up using, but enjoyed playing. After rehearsing for a while Julie left to go to her brother's graduation and we went to grab some grub. Cory and Diego and my person ate at the Iceberg Drive-In and Aaron and Lena ate at... um... another place that I can't remember right now. Maybe Subway or something.

After dinner we went back to Julie's parents' pad and had a tour of the new house they're building across the street, watched two kids jumping on top of a tree, and generally just sat around watching Pirates of the Carribean special features and part of The Emperor's New Groove. After a whiles it was time to go back and perform, so we donned our costumes and hopped in the Piratemobile(s). When we got there I think we did another run-through, and then wandered around Disneyland. I mean the high school. They had that thing more decorated than a... well, a highly decorated high school. My high school grad party was not nearly that cool. : (

They had inflatable slide and race course which we subjected ourselves to multiple times. Several minor injuries were sustained. The race was really fun, because to get through, you had to start out with a headlong dive through a small hole. Once, when Cory and I were racing, we both happened to get stuck in the hole right at first, and then at the end when you have to climb up the wall and go down the ramp Cory was a bit ahead, so I did a flip to go faster (for some reason that actually does work on the ramp part) and accidently gave Cory a compression fracture of the spine. At least that's what I was afraid of, but he was still walking and talking after that, so I guess he's ok. Then we eventually headed back up and drank Pina Coladas, ate shish kebabs and won tons (sp?) and other various edibles and embibables.

At long last the time (11 pm) arrived for us to play. And play we did. We opened with the Pirates of the Carribean opener, followed by a quartet doing an improv piece on two djembes, a marimba, and a cowbell. After that we finished our first set with a latin piece that Aaron had written. It consisted mostly of solos, which were fun. The crowd seemed to enoy it.

After that we just wandered aroud a bit more and ate and watched Family Feud played by the high school kids. The best part of that was the question "which is the most popular day of the week." There were 5 survey answers and you had to get three strikes for the other team to steal. Do the math.

After that nonsense ended we played our second set. This consisted of the epic swordfight cory-ographed by Chore, Diego , and me. But right then we were, Jingles & crew. It started off with me dropping a gold coin (courtesy the decorations) "accidently" as I walked across the stage. Cory and Diego both went for it at the same time, and thus the fight began. They fought for a while until Diego was forcing Cory down with swords locked when I entered, tapped Diego on the shoulder, and totally K.O.'d him as he turned to see who it was. He lay out cold on the side for most of the rest of the fight. After I punched him I raised my blade to finish him off. But Cory wanted the honors, so he shoved me and then we started fighting. My sword broke during the first few hits, but we kept going anyways. We finished up as Cory charged and swung recklessly. I ducked under his slice and cut him a good one right across the back. Then I kicked him onto his back and went to stab him, but he stabbed me instead. At this point, Diego came to and came up behind Cory with the intention of doing him harm. Cory pulled his sword out of my torso and stabbed behind him into Diego's torso. Thus Cory ended up victor (not Wooten) and collected the gold coin from the dust and exited stage right. The whole time Aaron, Lena, and Julie were going on the toms, cymbals, timpani, etc. which greatly enhanced the effect. After the duel, we ended our second set with another go of Pirates of the Carribean.

When that was all over we broke down the equipment and hauled it back to the band room. Then we had a go at the rock climbing wall they'd set up out-of-doors. By the time we got done the Polynesian dancers from SUU were about halfway through with their show. That ended with them teaching everyone a Hawaiian line dance. There was more feasting (Dilly Bars) and drinking (ice-cold Sprite) and general merry making. We then broke down the marimba that we had brought with and made our exit. Sleep was both welcome and in and out of doors.

The next morning bright and not even early at all, we breakfasted on cold cereal and Pop-tarts and then headed out for Red Cliffs. The hike was very awesome. We climbed and swam and became injured and took pictures and ate cactus (literally) and reenacted scenes from Star Wars. There were lizards and butterflies and wolves and coyotes and snakes. I'll be posting pictures when I get them developed, which should be soon as I have three rolls now completed and awaiting the light of day... I mean the darkroom. The whole hike took about 4 hours and we were nice and tired when we got done. I really should've tossed my frisbee from the mountain top down to the others, since I had it with me. Twould've made a nice video shot.

When we got back we dined on KFC at the Casperson flat and then later went for ice cream at GranDee's. We did not attempt the Zion, but my Pound Cake Sundae was most satisfying. Mmm. Raspberries and almonds. After that we finished New Groove and watched The Burbs. Then it was hay-hitting all around. Except for Frank.

The next morning we packed up and did the cold cereal thing again and left for home. The drive home was uneventful with the exception of the girl in the black car that Diego kept playing leapfrog with. Back at the college we unloaded and then went home. All in all a thoroughly enjoyable trip. Trips like that need to happen more often.

And speaking of trips, I read some more from der Gefangene von Askaban today. And started LotR again. But that's not trip-related. I am very much looking forward to Hof.

Well. Laters, all.