Monday, December 31, 2007


Vertical Blinds

We installed the vertical blinds for the patio door today.

Photobucket
Photobucket

Its nice to have that done.

Sunday, December 30, 2007


Meet Ranger


Photobucket

Ranger is a 2 month old beagle pup that we adopted from the Denton pound. We don't get to take her home until thursday, though, because the vet needs to 'adjust' her. We are both excited. We've wanted a dog for a while.

Christmas 2007

Tuesday, December 25, 2007


Merry Christmas


Photobucket

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Friday, December 21, 2007


The blinds are here.


When I got home from the concert last Saturday night I arrived to find that the wooden blinds that I had ordered had arrived, a couple of days earlier than I expected.
Photobucket


I went ahead and installed one of them before I went to bed that night.

Photobucket



Most of them are installed now, including the ones in the master bedroom.

Photobucket
Photobucket


And the master bath

Photobucket


The house now has a more 'private' feel now that the makeshift curtains are gone and the bare windows are covered.

Monday, December 17, 2007


Christmas Concert


The Christmas concert went fairly well. Tonight we played the 2nd of two concerts. The choir especialy sounded good tonight. The orchestra was good as well. There was a moment or two of wierdness but nothing serious.


Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

I wasn't all that thrilled with my playing but I think that the overall presentation came off well.


Here's a photo of the Flower Mound Symphony's low brass Section

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Friday, December 14, 2007


Fired.


I had a trombone student's grandmother(whom he lives with) call me today and tell me that my 'style' doesn't mesh well with him and that they had found another teacher. Fine. I've lost students before. This one bothered me, though, because the grandmother seemd to imply that I didn't 'respect' him and 'treat him like a man.'

He's 13 years old.

This particular student was actually pretty good for his age, making 1st chair all-city and 1st chair all-region this year. Unfortunately, he felt like he had nothing left to learn. He seemingly just wanted to be told how good he was - which I tried to do, just not all of the time. His reaction was to just sit there and pout.

He needed to take resposibility for his lack of action but why do it when his support system at home thinks that he can do no wrong?

Christmas Concert


The Flower Mound Symphony's big annual Christmas concert is Saturday & Sunday. Last year's was fun and this should be a good time for the performers & audience.


BTW, the tuba player in the orchestra, Rommel Cordova, just released an album. I've had a listen and it sounds great.
Check it out.

Monday, December 10, 2007


An Evening of Christmas Joys


Last night our stake performed its annual Christmas concert, 'An Evening of Christmas Joys.' it went rather well. It was a 2 hour program and included performances by a couple of children's choirs, a youth choir, a brass octet as well as the stake choir. Overall, the level of the performances was fairly high for an all-volunteer program.

I played in the brass octet which performed Canzon septimi toni No. 2 by Gabrieli.





It came off pretty well in spite of the fact that we were missing a trombone. I also played in the 'Denton Stake Chamber Orchestra' whose main function was to accompany the congregational hymns as well as the big finale, the Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah. It was a lot of fun.






Before the program began, several brass players, including myself, went into the foyer and played Christmas carols to the arriving audience.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Saturday, December 08, 2007


Done at last


The Master Bedroom Suite is done at last.


Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

I aimed the camera a little high on purpose to get more of the ceiling in on the shot.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Sunday, December 02, 2007


I'm looking for more playing opportunities.


I play the trombone on the Flower Mound Symphony Orchestra but I am looking to play in another group as well. If anyone knows of a good orchestra or community band in the Dallas Ft. Worth area that needs a trombone, please let me know.