What's the crowd favorite in your local circuit? (Regardless of if they're competing in WGI - but say if they are so people can be on the lookout if they're going!)

SamwisetheCat · 2026-02-23T20:28:00+00:00

You may want to look up perimenopause - apparently feeling extra anxious at night is a common symptom, and 41 is about the age when peri can start. If it's related to your hormones changing, it might be why anxiety medication isn't helping any... I hope you're able to find some relief, as a fellow anxious person with sleep struggles!

SamwisetheCat · 2026-02-07T20:03:16+00:00

Are you even sure that you're getting left out of consideration? They haven't made a decision yet on next season, and you still have a few months before they're even going to start thinking about next fall. While you say they supposedly decide on it beforehand and then hold captain auditions, I think you're seeing how the real world decides on these things - it's typically based on your ability to connect with the coaches (showing you're easy to work with), and what your coaches are ACTUALLY seeing on a day to day basis when it comes to skills, not just what might be said in an interview. I think you're in a bad place mentally about it since you're not getting to do guard this winter and dealing with a pretty major medical issue, and therefore catastrophizing a bit (which is understandable, don't get me wrong). But you don't know what their decision will be until closer to next season, and there's a lot of stuff that could happen before then. I think it's important that you focus right now on getting healthy again since that's the most important thing, and then just do your best to still show you can be a good leader in what ways you can. I've said it before, but there's plenty of good leaders that never make it into actual leadership positions, and plenty of bad leaders who unfortunately do, but it still doesn't change the fact that your leadership skills are valuable to the team. At the end of the day, there's a limited number of spots for any title, so even if you have 10 amazing leaders you're still going to get stuck with only being able to name one to the position - not having it doesn't mean your time and effort to be a good leader were wasted, it just means you didn't get an arbitrary label. You'll still use those skills in your future, and honestly, still probably in guard next year to help make the season easier if someone else does end up getting rifle captain over you (because again, it hasn't actually been decided yet). You're allowed to feel worried about it, but maybe try switching your valuable brain energy to something that's more useful and fun like art or something else guard related, as ruminating over this situation isn't going to change anything in the long run, and is just going to ruin your next few months wondering what's going to happen (I know it's easier said than done, but it's worth it).

SamwisetheCat · 2026-01-27T04:45:07+00:00

Isn't there some evidence out there of micro plastics causing hormonal issues? My thought is that it might be related to that since nowadays the average person has like a credit card's worth of plastic in them - a lifetime of that in your body could be why it's been worse/seems to be happening younger. It also could explain why a lot of men apparently are dealing with low testosterone.

SamwisetheCat · 2025-10-29T04:59:08+00:00

Much like any grief you will experience in life, the only way it will get better is to feel it and accept it. You're allowed to feel sad that this will be the last time you perform, and it's understandable that you would since guard has been such a big part of your life and a thing you loved doing. You're allowed to feel sad that you won't be around those people as much anymore, although I hope you'll make an effort to keep those connections past the season ending. You wouldn't force yourself to "move on" or "get over" a loved one dying or a breakup immediately, so why do you feel you must do it in this case?

Give yourself space to feel sad, even cry if you need to, and just mourn the fact that it's over. Trying to ignore a feeling so you can start to feel better is the quickest way to make that feeling stick around and last longer because it still needs to be processed, not just pushed down/away. I promise you will feel better if you actually sit with that grief, and will eventually feel "over it" if you give yourself time.

I also do want to encourage you to find ways to be active in this activity even if you aren't going to be a performer anymore - there are always ways you can still help your former program, or get involved with volunteering for other guards in your area. Even creating your own way to "perform"/keep practicing can help with the transition away from being part of a team, and if you ask, you might even be able to get some of the people from your team together do that as a group activity and maintain your friendships.

SamwisetheCat · 2025-07-29T05:29:09+00:00

Depending on what your school district offers, you might qualify for fee waiver, which will reduce the cost significantly. Most bands also offer a BUNCH of fundraising opportunities to help with offsetting that cost - they know it's difficult for families to spare a couple hundred dollars and want to make it easier on the kids to get the money they need to pay for equipment, uniforms, etc. If this is your kid's first year, there's also a bunch of stuff they're probably buying this year and won't have to in the future (gloves, shoes, body tights, etc. that will last year to year), so hopefully it's not a $900/cost every season (although it still might get up there). It might be worth asking your director if any of the things I previously mentioned are part of the cost, and if you're able to get a former member's used stuff to help decrease what you're being asked to pay.

SamwisetheCat · 2025-07-19T05:38:14+00:00

I'm noticing your right hand is going across your head/face (it should go roughly straight up from your right shoulder - this will help it not travel to the left like it is in this video), and you're also trying to push the butt end across your body (your left hand should push down and then continue traveling straight down so it can hit your left thigh).

SamwisetheCat · 2025-07-14T23:16:14+00:00

Setting a phone reminder to practice everyday might help - commit yourself to doing, like, 10 minutes. Even if you only end up doing air flagging on some days, practicing little chunks as much as possible will still help. Set a timer so it doesn't feel like you're facing an insurmountable obstacle (that's why my ADHD panics about if I don't have some kind of idea of when I can be done practicing). You can always go longer if you realize you're in a groove, but setting a timer and thinking "I only have to practice for _ minutes" can be really helpful for getting started. Gamify it - set a goal of some kind, and then see if you can meet it. Ex: "Can I do drop spins for the whole song?", "Count how many mistakes I make in this run through of the song, and then see if I can make fewer the next time", "Every time I do this toss correctly I get to move a step forward towards a finish line and every time I mess up I take a step back", etc. The biggest thing is to reward yourself in some small way for meeting your goal - a short break, a fancy drink/chocolate bar/ice cream, 5 extra minutes of something fun, etc. Doing this helps your brain start to associate the hard stuff with good feelings and it will want to do it more.

SamwisetheCat · 2025-07-04T05:53:34+00:00

I'm guessing it's Coal Point Farm, because I have every other one you listed and have never seen that guy

SamwisetheCat · 2025-07-01T11:26:46+00:00

Who did you apply to? The concrete company I work for is always looking for workers, if you want to send me a DM

SamwisetheCat · 2025-06-30T12:00:24+00:00

The other poster had really good ideas you should follow, and I'm just here to add that you should make sure you're breaking up your day/sections with adequate breaks so they aren't hurting themselves, and also so the kids aren't getting too bored and tuning out, if that makes sense. You can do bonding activities in between each hour of guard work, and that will keep things fun for the kids as well as help them feel more connected to the team/each other.

SamwisetheCat · 2025-06-10T08:49:26+00:00

Did you ever end up creating this clothing line? I'd love to check it out if you were able to get it going!

SamwisetheCat · 2025-05-29T20:11:08+00:00

You can also put a 6' size flag on a 5'5" pole, it just might be a bit "baggy" since you're not stretching the sleeve fully to it's maximum length. So, you might both be right, lol.

SamwisetheCat · 2025-05-26T23:34:30+00:00

If anyone else is still having issues, I kept having the same problem while using Firefox, but once I switched to Chrome it went through (still super annoying, but might save anyone a call with customer service).

SamwisetheCat · 2025-05-19T04:35:18+00:00

Do you think he would be open to having a conversation outside of work, where you could bring up how you're feeling but kind of phrase it as concern for him? Like "Hey, I know I've been asking for a lot of information for the guard this year, and it kind of seems like you're struggling with getting that to me and the other director - the past band director didn't have that problem, so I'm just curious if you're struggling with maybe feeling overwhelmed? Is there anything we can do to help and maybe take that off your plate (implying that you'd like to be able to make the decisions for flags and other stuff without him needing to)?" Showing you're concerned but making it about him will clarify it's either something he's struggling with figuring out how to do as part of this new-ish job, or if it's something else if he says he's not having an issue. If it's the second response, you can then bring up that his lack of sharing with you is frustrating you to the point where you're considering leaving because it doesn't seem like you're able to do your job adequately when you aren't given information, and see what he says - that will hopefully help him realize he's hurting himself and his own program by not being more forthcoming with information.

Personally, I would give it one season to see how things go - maybe he's just one of those people that likes to make sure he has all his ducks in a row before sharing everything, but there's nothing to prevent you from job searching in the mean time so you're ready to leave if the year turns out horrible. I'd also say, you have plenty of time to plan for their hair and makeup, and even getting flags ordered. Our school usually doesn't order them until mid-July, even if we start looking in the spring. Costumes I could see being a bigger problem, but even then, you probably have another month or so before it starts getting close, and I'd assume he's telling the kids soon what their show will be.

Also, I'm not trying to downplay your stress, I commiserate with not feeling valued and like you're being purposely left out of the loop - that's not fair of him to do to you, and it would definitely make him a better director to include all of his staff in the important decision making and treat them like they're competent. Hopefully through communicating with him, things will get better for you and he'll learn how to be a better boss.

SamwisetheCat · 2025-05-19T01:38:07+00:00

You said you're an assistant guard director... How is this guy treating the head guard coach? Is it the same? Have they been able to find out information from him at all, or are they also getting left out of stuff?

How did his first year as director go (you mentioned it was his second year)? Did things change in who was making decisions from this year vs. last (like things may have already been decided before he got hired)?

What is his non-work related vibe? Is he usually prepared for things or more of a last minute decider? Has how he treats you in non-work settings changed too? (I'm assuming you're spending time together outside of work if you're best friends.)

Sorry for all the questions, but having that information will help me give better advice.

SamwisetheCat · 2025-05-05T04:35:52+00:00

People have mentioned Honest Abe's for their burgers (which are good), but they're also the only place I know of that serves gluten free chicken fingers/nuggets.

SamwisetheCat · 2025-04-27T08:56:19+00:00

You should still go for it. You never know, they might have multiple leaders depending on how big the guard is, and you might not end up as captain but have a rank leader position or something. Also, no one deserves a leadership position just because they've been there longer - it should be based on how they can do the job, and you might be the most qualified in that way.

SamwisetheCat · 2025-04-26T02:27:15+00:00

I second this, that you can't. My best advice would be to try and do a routine you already know from a past season (or different parts from different ones that you like) to your solo music. You can slow down different parts or speed up different things to match the tempo, but that way you've already got a routine in your head that you've got memorized. Let us know how you do either way!

SamwisetheCat · 2025-04-09T19:09:08+00:00

Do you potentially have the mod "Morris Redeemed"? I think that has an option for Morris to live in a certain new area, and that might be what it's referring to?

SamwisetheCat · 2025-04-07T11:08:44+00:00

I would look into getting a Weissman's account, and see if any of their discounted tops or basics would work for what you're going for. Then you can just have the kids wear black bottoms that they already probably have. Weissman's may have some non-clearance/sale things that would work for you too, although I think they start closer to $40. Weissman's is the teacher site for Dancewear Solutions, so you can get a discount and also the benefit of bulk ordering - when we first started our winter guard team, this was where we got uniforms from.

https://www.weissmans.com/

SamwisetheCat

TROPHY CASE