beautiful, funny, sad & true

Okay, it’s now Friday. I haven’t written anything since Tuesday. This is unacceptable, I know, but it’s been another busy week.

Kelly and I hung out the last couple of nights, which was great. We watched Da Ali G Show on DVD and played Tribond one night (she won), and the next night we went to the Mission Theater, where every week they play episodes of Arrested Development. For free. Then we came back and played Uno (I won).

My apartment is a total shambles. The other day I bought some new bookshelves, to match the computer desk and stuff that I got from Alyssa. I put them together, and they look great, but everything’s still kinda strewn around and disorganized until I can get rid of the old bookshelf, which I just now put on Craigslist.

Tonight I’m playing cello with Sarah Castro, tomorrow I’m driving down to Salem to play accordion and guitar with Breanna Paletta, and Sunday morning I’m driving to Gleneden Beach to play accordion with Susie Blue. From there I’m driving to Cannon Beach to meet my mom and stepdad, and my brother and his family. I may not have a chance to write until I get back, which is why I’m writing now.

So this may not be a particularly earth-shattering entry, but at least you’re all caught up now. Don’t you feel lucky and/or special?

This week is going to be completely crazy. Here’s what’s going on:

Monday: Work (one hour early), then first rehearsal with Steph and the new band members. Hip hop/jazz drummer and upright bass player. Frickin’ amazing, and it takes the band in a completely new and exciting direction.

Tuesday: Work (one hour early), then second rehearsal with the new band members. Came home, did a load of laundry, and practiced the cello while I watched a PBS show about synchronized swimming.

Wednesday: Work (probably an hour early), then leaving at 4:00 to come home, load up the car, and go to the first gig as this new incarnation of Steph’s band. We’re playing at Jimmy Mak’s, a very swanky jazz club, and we’re probably the only rock band who plays there. Oh, and my new glasses should be ready, too. I’ll post a picture as soon as I have a chance.

Thursday: Work, then I’m going to FlutistSusan’s to play cello at another sight-reading/rehearsal evening with her, myself, another cellist, and hopefully a handful of other people.

Friday: Daytime gig in Salem, Oregon with Steph and the band. Driving home, then going to work for a while. Yikes.

Saturday: Driving to Clarkston, Washington with Steph and the band to play the Rockin’ On The River Festival, and we’re driving back to Portland after we’re done with the gig. What? There are four of us; we can split the driving. It’s only four hours each way.

Sunday: Getting up early and going to work, if there’s anything left to do. Then meeting LittleBrother for lunch and a quick visit. After that, I’m packing up the car again and going to a third gig with Steph and the band at a private fund-raiser for autism research.

Monday: Work, then rehearsal with Breanna Paletta and BassistChris for our show in Salem, Oregon on the 28th.

Oh, by the way, I have two other gigs that weekend. I’m playing cello with Sarah Castro in Portland on the 27th, and accordion with Susie Blue in Gleneden Beach, Oregon on the 29th. After that gig, I’m driving to Cannon Beach, Oregon to meet Mom, Stepdad, LittleBrother, SisterInLaw, Niece, and Nephew. After they go to bed, I’m driving back to Portland to go to sleep and start the week of work.

I need to clone myself. Maybe my clone could go to work my job for me, and then I could go do all the gigs, but I have a sneaking suspicion that perhaps I should consider TWO clones.

As you may or may not have already known, I’ve wanted a camera for a long time now. This was the year that I finally splurged and got a decent one. Here, then, are my favorite pictures from this year.

a beautiful October day in Portlandunder the Fremont bridge in PortlandConstruction site in downtown Boise, Idaho McKinley performing “Jamie’s Got a Gun”, taken from backstage at the Night of the Murder Ballad
another of McKinley at Murder BalladKelly on the waterfront in AstoriaKelly warming up with coffee in Astoriainside a cave in Cannon Beach, Oregon
Also Cannon Beach. A kid knocked them down right after this picture was taken.karaoke night
stormy day in Carson, WashingtonJacob Ray of the Young ImmortalsBreanna Paletta of Rye Hollow

but my favorite of the year is this one:

All pictures copyright 2006 by me.  If you’d like copies or anything, please leave a comment and we can work that out.