Christmas Lights 2007

Here they are, I know you've been waiting.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I still have comp tickets to The Nutcracker if anyone wants them...

Tuba Christmas

PS: I know PS's go at the bottom....but....I have comp tickets to The Nutcracker for this weekend if anyone is interested. CLICK HERE, let me know what performance you'd like to attend and I'll hook you up!

Today Oda Mae and I went out to see our local Tuba Christmas. 70 some odd tubas and euphoniums playing Christmas tunes should not be missed. I have to admit that I've never been and this was a first for me and Oda Mae. It's really difficult to describe the sound of that many tubas, but I'll try...SCARY LOW RUMBLE with a just a hint of PITCH. I will say that maybe I'm a bit biased 'cause I'm a trumpet player.

It's a novelty really. I may go again next year just to say I went. I suppose some people would go just to say they heard their favorite euphonium player play a gig.... Those don't come up very often. Think about it... Have you ever heard a euphonium player play a solo at someones wedding. How 'bout that kickin' euphonium concert on Friday night? Nope.... Chances are that unless you were in band at some point, you don't' even know what a euphonium is.


If you have the chance to see you're local Tuba Christmas, go check them out. It'll make all the euphonium players feel better about themselves. Here are some pics from today...

Oda Mae and I taking our seats... The masses assemble...
Equipment malfunction...
In awe, amazement, horror (what ever you want to call it)...
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On a much sadder note. Tuesday evening I lost a friend and a colleague who incidentally played the tuba. Mark Wolfe died in a motorcycle accident on Tuesday evening. We played in quintet together off and on during the last 3-4 years. I can honestly say that the gigs I played with Mark were some of the most memorable. We played great music with great players for great audiences. Albeit in some unusual places... I always had fun on these trips and I'll miss them and Mark.

Besides the fact that he passed only a week before Christmas, the worst part of it is that he leaves behind a wife and three children. The local musicians union has set up a fund to collect money for his family in order to assist them through this tragic time. Please go to this website; Dallas-Fort Worth Professional Musicians Association and click on the link at the left that says "Mark Wolfe Fund" read the articles that have been posted about Mark and send a contribution to help his family.

DV,

-OD

The Christmas Party

Last night, we went to a Christmas Party with my sister. We had a really good time. There was lots of good food and I think I ate most of it. Oda Mae enjoyed the kid crafts and the dancing. All I can say is that Oda Mae was one step away from getting on the tables...



Yes, Oda Mae and Aunt Sis wore matching outfits. That wasn't planned, they just have the same taste in animal prints. :)

She was pretty worn out at the end of the night. I think tomorrow we'll stay home all day and rest.

-OD

Dinner and Tournament!

Edit: Here are a couple more pictures from last night.

Last night, we made an and evening of fine dining and an excellent show as Lords and Ladies at Medieval Times.

Thanks to my nephew and former student, Chris, we got comp tickets for the whole fam.

When we got there and safely across the moat I might add, we proceeded to make our way to the souvenir tables. Oda Mae of course picked out a pink princess hat.

We cheered all evening for the Red Knight (YEAH!!!!!!!) only to be disappointed (as he was winning) when he was brutally "murdered" by the Green Knight (Boooooooooo!) and his toadies. I'm pretty sure that Oda Mae (and quite possibly Oda Momma, Aunt Sis, and Gran) all had a little crush on our Red Knight. I'm glad I don't have to compete with him on a daily basis. Oda Mae was especially "in love" when he tossed her a flower!

One of the highlights of the evening was getting to watch Chris in action....(he gets to wear blue tights and everything!)

Oda Momma and I had a great time. The food was pretty good (sans eating utensils of course) as well. You can't go wrong with a four course meal and half a chicken on your plate. We were happy.

After the show was over, we got to fraternize with the hired help.

Then it was time to go home. We all had a great time and it made some of us very tired!

If I'm lucky, maybe she'll sleep a couple extra minutes this morning!

DV,

-OD

Is it December already?

Seems like just yesterday, it was Thanksgiving. (According to my last blog post, it was!)

So I'm a bit busy these days, I'm behind on my posting and my pictures, but I'm pretty much caught up on everything else now. I took video of the lights this evening. I'll try and get that posted soon. Just so you know, I ended up with a grand total of 26,726 lights on the house this year! That's about 8,000 more than last year. Don't worry, I've got plenty more electricity for more lights next year.

As for news on the home front, Allison is doing very well. Remember a post or two ago (back in September I think) when I said that she had a good day and how I wished that would happen more often. I think my dreams have come true. Lately, she really seems to be doing very well. Don't get me wrong, we still have moments, but they are much more rare and aren't as traumatic. We've had more good days than "bad" lately. That's VERY nice. Also, her imagination has really taken off. Just during the last couple of weeks I can be sitting somewhere and watch her start pretending all by herself. I actually practiced for an hour today while she sat there and did puzzles and blocks. Usually we can't go more than 10 minutes without having to play with her and keep her entertained. She loves to talk on her toy telephone. It's very funny because you hear only one side of a one sided conversation.

I've begun preparing for an audition coming up. I have to admit that I'd really like to win THIS ONE. It's one of the reasons I'm kind of busy right now. The audition is in March and it's just down the street. Wouldn't have to move across the country, that's nice.

Time to go practice now. I'll try to get caught up on some more posting later.

Dominus vobiscum!

-OD