Edit: Neo's back!!

[Neocridders]

Directly copying and pasting from where I posted on PI. I'm showing this to you because you diserve to know why I'm  gone the next few days. (Trust me, I had no idea until about 8 hours ago. And I've been franticly preparing for being away and making up school work since next week we have no school for holiday break.)


Anyway, about 8 hours ago I was offered a once in a life time opportunity trip with the band, that I had no intention to go on.

Actually, I was unable to afford it. It's a $600 trip, to go to a band clinic. The cost covered busses, hotel costs, a few dinners... and then I'd have to pay separate for anything else, plus some money for a few meals we'll have to buy ourselves.

Well, in the last few years, my family went from pretty well off middle class to a bit lower. We've not got much money right now. We're cutting corners anywhere we can. And a $600 band clinic was NOT something my parents were prepared to pay for.

Well, we've known about the trip for months, but I wasn't in the right band until only a month ago. A friend on my instrument moved, so I moved up to the best band at the school. And only the top band goes on this trip. So, I've known for a month that I wouldn't be going on this trip.

This morning, at about 12:00 eastern time, my band director came up to me telling me someone was really sick (bless his soul, I've known him for years and I hope he's ok!) and wouldn't be able to go on the trip. So his mom decided to donate the trip for someone who wasn't going to go due to money issues.
And he picked ME!

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I can't believe it. And just think, this morning, I had absolutely no idea I'd be going to this trip. WOW!

So, I'm going to -insert city here- tomorrow and won't be home for a few days. Actually, it'll be Saturday morning early. Probably about 8:00 PI time (which is about 2 or 3 my time!). So, I'll be gone for a few days.

If anyone needs to contact me during this time, please PM me. I'll only be on PI once a day to skim stuff on my phone, probably not posting, but I'll check PMs and I'll hopefully get to do advent calendar and stuff.

But if I can't get my phone to go on the internet while I'm away, I WILL NOT have internet. If I am logged on, It's my sister, Kate, who might do advent for me on one day.


Hope everyone's well. See you soon!

[Silvanon]

Awe, that's really cool you get to go.  Have a great time!

[jojo]

Yay Neo! I'm glad you get to go! That was really nice of that person's mom to donate trip money

[Neocridders]

It's about 5:40 in the morning. Just got home. I've been up  for about 24 hours, but that's ok.

OMG. In case you were wondering, we went to Chicago. And Oh my gosh. It was amazing. I have never had so much fun in my whole life!

Oh, i've got so much to share, but for now i'll just tell you what i did.

Wednesday we got there, ate chicago style pizza, went to the marine band show.
Thursday we got up early, went to our band clinic, went to the Chicago art institute (omg. So many famous paintings!!), went to dinner, then to a texas high school band concert.
Friday we got up, went tospace museum,  which was so cool, went to american girl store, which was something i ad always wanted to do, went to tons of stores, and wow, to finish it off, went to dinner then BLUE MAN GROUP.
what a day. Good night.