Gold

and Silver. Or, even better, Silver and Gold. Like the Silver and Gold Brass, a brass quintet based in Albany, NY. I've played tuba with them since March of this year. The quintet itself is about 2 years old. We play original arrangements and quintet standards at a variety of settings. I mean a variety: nursing homes, churches, clinics at local schools, Citifield (Mets stadium) in Queens, etc etc etc. I've always wanted to play in a really good brass quintet and I finally do.

We've been developing within the last couple of months at an incredible pace. We have this great core sound now that I've never heard in a group that involved me. We played at the senior recital of one of the members a week ago and came out with wonderful recordings. You can hear them at www.myspace.com/silverandgoldbrass . The recital recordings are the top 2 on the list: Prelude to a Kiss and Grand Valley Fanfare.

In other news, Thanksgiving was fun. I had a better time than I probably ever have at Thanksgiving with my family. I credit Brian for this. I know how cheesy that sounds. But it was really nice to see my family and friends and be able to brag endlessly about how awesome life is. And just as nice, there was no hella gay "I'm thankful for..." dinner conversation. We did say Grace though. It was a bit awkward. Why am I so much better at sitting in a church pew through a Catholic Easter mass and so bad at holding hands with my family while my oldest brother thanks the Lord for our food?

The only thing missing from the Thanksgiving that Brian improved was Brian himself. He was in Oneonta with his family. I'm actually leaving in about 40 minutes to get on a bus going there. :) It's nice. Really old school, too! I can't wait to roll up to the station and see my love outside waiting for me. <3

I really want a beagle. There was just a news segment about one getting abused and now I want to save it and every other beagle in the world.

I really enjoy not having a car. What a totally different take on the world! Wednesday I rented a car using my College of Saint Rose staff discount. When I returned from Vermont, I took a bus to Crossgates Mall and met up with a friend. Then took a bus back and walked later that night. So just recently, I've re-experienced having a car as a transportation resource, and I didn't like it as much. I hate having to park and get gas and deal with city driving.

Okay I should start getting ready. I have a bus to catch. Then tomorrow we come back from my love's family and I go to rehearsal with my quintet. There is a lot to be thankful for!

Thanksgiving

I've decided to write this post now, rather than later in the week because I have internet now. But not so much as of tomorrow.

Well on my phone I'll still have it. But anyone who blogs from their phone is making a huge mistake.

Anyway, I'm finally having a year that has given me much to be thankful for. I'm thankful that the play is over, and that it went well. I'm thankful for my new-found hobby/skill in acting, and for the theatre companies that I am already with that will give me much more experience. I'm incredibly thankful to be playing in a brass quintet with very professional and fun people, and that it will be going places some day.

On a more serious note, I'm thankful to be able to spend Thanksgiving with my dad and brother, who almost didn't make it to then. My brother's lung collapsed a couple of months ago and my father battled lung cancer earlier this year. Both of them are doing well now. :)

More than anything, I am thankful for my partner, Brian. (We're still officially just boyfriends, but that word cannot do justice to our feelings for each other, especially in a post about thanks.) He came into my life 4 months ago and turned it around completely. I feel better about performing than I have for years, I've tried new things that I never thought I would and there is this new stability in my manner that wasn't there before. I wake up easily most mornings when before Brian I would barely drag myself out of bed. I have a future now, whereas I barely did before.

I think I'll wrap it up with that. I'll probably go on another rant about gay marriage soon. Or the evil of potatoes. Or whatever.

Happy Thanksgiving! :)

Commerce

I engage in it. To the tune of a new smartphone. Oh hells yes I am one of them now!

It all started earlier today. Brian and I were at Starbucks and planning to go grocery shopping immediately afterward. Then I tried to see a message i had sent. Ohhhh no you don't, Jay, my phone replied with body language. All of a sudden the touch screen on my LG Dare no longer responded to the touch. This is a problem for touch screens.

So long story short I was eligible for an early upgrade and now have a Droid. (I'm sorry, Apple. I love you and the iPhone.)

So now I can use this phone to increase my productivity this week!!!! Or destroy it.

Not that I have much of a chance. I have an Italian test Tuesday, four performances of the play, a duet with tuba and bassoon in Rep Class and two senior recitals over the weekend. I'm already exhausted just thinking about that. And also I'm pretty sure it's borderline impossible. Oh I forgot, my boss is away this week so extra hours at work, plus I'm in charge of ILL...ish.

I just went to Texts from Last Night on my phone. I think I'm done here.

Maine

I'm gay. And in a committed, loving relationship. Therefore, I must be a threat to your kids. After all, if they see just how much Brian and I truly love each other, they may realize that your own marriage is, to put it lightly, lacking.

I, of course, don't mean to stereotype conservatism, but let's not forget how many Republican "pro-family" Congressmen have been involved in gay sex scandals in the last few years, or mixed up with prostitutes, or anything else that is quite a bit more detrimental to family values than two men loving each other. (Or women. Shut up, feminists.)

So in other news, more life-ish news, the Semester from Hell now has a younger brother. I call this semester the Semester from Heck. I had honestly planned to take on a lighter load and manage my entire life better. Instead, I'm currently involved in the following activities:

- 9 classes
- 20 hours a week at the library
- acting in Cloud Nine at Saint Rose (Act I: Joshua, Act II: Martin)
- The Silver and Gold Brass Quintet
- CSR ITEA (College of Saint Rose chapter of the International Tuba Euphonium Association), Vice President
- Subbing on 2nd trombone in The Pajama Game
- Playing in a brass ensemble with the Masterworks Chorale on Rutter's Gloria
- Subbing in a community band next month
- Albany TubaChristmas, the first of its kind in my city in years
- Brian <3

I can't wait until grad school. People always say it's difficult, but seriously, it can't even match this. Unless I keep acting in fucking plays and get an assistantship and work 2 jobs at libraries and do the dual master's degree and FUUUUUUUUUCCK!

Okay, nevermind. Please, do pardon me while I get another cup of coffee..............Wow that's good coffee.

I really want to go away to the city for a weekend. Like I'm DYING to do so! But with Christmas coming up, and being short on January's rent (which I may be able to get by with because it's when I move in with Brian...so I can use that to get money from my mom hehe), it seems like a very very bad idea. Instead, Brian and I are taking a day trip to Oneonta this weekend so that I can meet his parents. We tried months ago, but I had a migraine that kept me in bed until 7 pm. We're making it a day trip though, because I need my sleep. At least some.

And now, back to work!

Advice for gays: Maybe it's time we started boycotting states with out tourism dollars...publicly. Because we tend to be childless in our relationships (even with adoption opportunities), we have more expendable income. And I know that we like to travel. So it's a thought...