Well, the rain certainly didn't disappoint. What would WGI be without a dreary day. OH that's right, we usually have them on Friday mornings ever year at this time, only inside the UD Arena.

   I just don't get it. The performers are just fine, it's the show designs that are usually the let down for me. With such talented members doing what they are instructed to do, I find it sad that the staff of units can't come up with something entertaining for the masses. I know most designers are more concerned about winning or making finals, so their work can be seen on a poorly edited DVD.
   Maybe it's just me, but I still think it's more important to please the people who pay the bucks, especially these days!
  

  


 
  After watching as many guards as I could, only because it's hard being in 3 places at one time, here are some of the ones I feel are worth mentioning. Try to keep in mind that these are from my point of view only, so read at your own risk.
  I felt like WGI's SA and IO divisions had the most to offer, but unfortunately there seems to be a formula in the design of shows that require body movement first, then some equipment work, and back to body movement. Most guards did this, and I'm guessing so they would be like all the rest, which would make it hard to distinguish one from another. Even from one class to another. The only difference is how high you toss, but that's a WGI Class restriction.
  With one of the most unique shows Walled Lake Central High School "O" guard was one of my faves of the weekend. The musical choice may have been "Falling Slowly", but they were rising fast in my eyes. Their beautiful voices added another layer to the mix of their performance with the recorded version.
  Some memories can be of what you were doing when you heard a certain song, who you saw a particular movie with, or the joy a guard brought you while watching them perform. That's how  I'll remember Live Oak High School guard. Of course, it never hurts to include visions of Marilyn and Judy, with sounds of Babs to help us remember "The Way We Were".
  I would pledge to the NRA if their handling and love of rifles were anything like the Cadets of South Shore. It's so good to see these young people carry on the  tradition of this organization. They have a bag full of tricks that adds excitement to equipment work. They have a trust and respect for each other, as well as the tools of the trade.   
  As smooth as Firefly Sweet Tea, Byrnes High School was my fave of all the "Hometown" guards. With their bags packed, they saw the signs to the future and are ready for the big time.
  Holy Skills! Of all the "pretty" shows, I had a religious experience while watching one performance. Guards from the northeast certainly do know how to handle equipment, which makes it easy to give praise to Salem Blue from my Amen Corner!
  Usually if a guard doesn't grab me in the first 60 seconds of their show, I know it's gonna be a struggle for me to keep from nodding off. Luckily the music Interplay used woke me up in time to hear the lyrics. After this seemingly huge unit's salute to the weekend and happy meetings, I ended up having a "Wonderful Time".
  This year's Aimachi came from across the pond. Showing that the strategy of the game is to keep people guessing what the next move may be, Beatrix' was more than successful with their challenging version of "Chess". The Netherlands has exported another group to entertain and compete with us Americans.
  To say that Avon High School has talent is an understatement. Knowing how to not waste such talent is a designers dilemma, and this year the members were allowed to "Release" a show that was both competitive and entertaining. The difficulty for some to balance the fine line of the two was blurred from point "A" to point "B", which gave me the opportunity to enjoy the talent and dedication of the performers.
  It may be the end of winter and the beginning of spring, but "Autumn Leaves" fall no better than Lake Central High School "A" guard. As the performers portrayed leaves falling from branches and then blowing in the wind as they fluttered to the earth, it reminded me of the beauty of fall and the blanket of warmth left by the leaves before the cold winter approaches. That was certainly enough to give me a cozy feeling.
  Trumbull High School brought in the soothing rays of dawn's light to the UD Arena, which was certainly needed in their division. Even while the show was subtle and pretty, there was still an excitement brought out by these goddesses.
  "I Believe" if you want to see a world of beauty, you should make it a point to watch Croatan H.S. Their elegance and grace could unite nations.
  One of the most imaginative shows of the weekend was a picnic of a treat. I ANT got anything against Passaic H.S., I would have liked to have had more of a camp feeling, but they were certainly no pests.
  Warren Central H. S. had one of the most wicked rifle segments with what I call their double spin run around! Stuff like that just makes me think numero uno.
  Even though the first minute or so felt like I was given an apple grown on "A Poison Tree", Centerville H.S. came to life with some very nice equipment work and a confidence from the performers that wanted me to take a big bite.
  Lyman H.S. really rocked my world, and goodness knows I needed it. These "Citizens of the Planet" gave me hope that there would be easy dreams at the end of the day.
  Speaking of rock, another one of my faves of the weekend had a soft rock feel while showing homage to some wonderful guards and memorable shows. I may have been "living just to find emotion" from a performance to make my journey worthwhile and Wind gave me reason to not stop believin' that there are some good things that come out of this very long weekend.
  It was "Finally" good to see an interpretation of a song instead of a concept. Give me a nice song, good guard skills, and beautiful performers and I'll just think Mission Viejo H. S.
 
  You know what I get when I cross Cassius Clay with L.L. Cool J? Give up? South Shore Drill Team! Cause if you're not knocked out after watching them then I didn't raise you right! This may be a time for change, but I am so glad to see that these daredevils haven't changed. There is no doubt that their equipment is just another appendage of their body and soul. I would love to visit them just to see what goes on during a rehearsal.
 
  Now, in the self proclaimed professional division, there wasn't much that got me excited. Thank goodness I didn't pre-order a DVD.
  So here are some things I did notice.

  With mad rifle skills, Diamante stayed "Inside the Ink".
  Sacred Heart needed some coaching from Dorae Saunders, a real "Private Dancer" who has now gone very public.
  At one point in their show, Crown used bells in the butts of their rifles like a SA guard did back in 2003.
  When you have your own trademark style, you can never get placed in what I call the "nice enuff" shows category. Braddock Independent remains true to themselves by having fun which projects out to the audience so we can join in the fun as well.
  Corona may have had one of the worst lays of the weekend (bad floors for the uninitiated), but they had one of the best flag segments and that helped offset it. Their "weapon" skills added some excitement to their subtle version of "A Case of You". Not sure if it was a hard case or a cold case, but I liked it as a soft case and glad it was a brief case.
  The first time I ever saw Blessed Sacrament they were all girls, and had a rather "Glamorous Life". These days they are just another co-ed unit, but with some attractive men. At the beginning I got a little excited because I kept thinking I heard my name, but I knew it couldn't have been about Moi'. Then, with one of the best lays of the weekend, the performers showed their love of the activity, trust of each other, and commitment to give it all they had.
  Santa Clara Vanguard was technically fine. With some very nice ensemble work and talented performers, I just wasn't sure about the theme. I was more like e-u, the germs. Thanks for the "Smooch" shirt though, I did get it in time to wear it out!
  With the worst lay of the weekend that reminded me of one of my great grandma's lace doilies, Aimachi may have been "Beloved", but had lost some of their charm with me. Their majorettes were fantastic as always, but now that the group has been Americanized it's just another one of the pro-class guards in WGI. Sure, story telling is good for the judges, but sometimes I just prefer the simply things in life, like a fun to watch truly international unit with a genuine smile.
   And the beat goes on with Light Brigade. They keep on being different from all the rest, and the passion of what they do is as contagious as the rhythym of a drum beat.
   If the aroma of a rose could be visualized, the Ventures would be called the perfume of winter guard. Their variety of equipment and dance was like a full bouquet of colorful roses in a Waterford Vase.
  Somethings are so seamless that they don't have a beginning or end. Croatan shared their love of guard with elegant movement while doing their job of generating joy.
  "Send in the Clowns" has enough emotion in the lyrics if you just listen. "Underneath It All", the members of Black Watch did a good job of wiping away the masks that hid their true identity of being performers with honest feelings, even though the narrative was a little "A" for me.
  Even though the majority of the so called "World" divisions was like a relaxation CD you would find on the Soundscapes channel, Northeast Independent was nothing to sleep through. As one of my faves of the weekend, they displayed some of the best body movement while doing equipment work at the same time. This unit's effort and design was as welcomed and refreshing as "The Rain Before Dawn".
  Well, that's some of my highlights of the family reunion, that I choose to share publicly. I realize different people see different things, and that's what I love about this activity. I get to choose what I like and what I don't, it's kinda that simple. We all know that I rarely agree with the few people who talk through entire shows, but we all don't have to agree. Unlike others, I am always open to listening to other points of view.
  So for now, you just got finished reading the B'-view.