Drops= road style drop handlebars.
I used a Miyata Triplecross as my bike for one season. The word heavy does indeed apply. (though mine was steel and yours is bonded aluminum)
Your bike already has a flat handlebar, and the Exage shifters. If you want to make it "cyclocrossy", and add the drop handlebars pictured above, you'll need.
drop handlebars
brake levers for those bars
some way to shift, bar-end shifters would be the easiest,could also use STI.
a new rear wheel and cassette
a new rear derailleur
when you obtain drivetrain components (shifters, cassette, derailleur) make sure that they are compatible with each other. Don't end up with an old 7 speed freehub, an 8 speed cassette, and a 9 speed STI lever.