things i did in 14.
a moustache-twisting journal of the few things in my life worth mentioning

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experienced fame
An old friend who is now a high school drama director called me: could I be the professional presence in their student pit band for the musical, "Fame"? Why, of course! That kind of thing is what I do. The school is one of those arts-funded few, with a lively band, theater, orchestra, and choir, each one containing at least a few really terrific performers.


played for a choir contest
Another friend called me: could I be the accompanist for their school choir at UIL? Hmmmm. That kind of thing is *not* what I do most of the time. Legit music, playing the ink, having their contest score hinge on me to some degree? Whew. I did it anyway, and I and they did just fine.


went to church on sundays
As a civilian, that is. Something rare for me these days. After the Holy Trinity gig dried up, I found myself a regular guy on Sunday mornings, with the regular-guy problem of where to go to church. We went to a couple in our area, often settling on Crossings, the 93dB contemporary branch of the church I grew up in. With earplugs firmly in, the girls enjoyed it, and so did I.


led worship
Ah, but then a church I'd dealt with many times in a jazz mode (The Protags had been Artists in Residence there for a while) called. Would I be interested in heading up *their* contemporary service? We backed and forthed a bit, working out the exacts, and it was done. I'm now the Official Contemporary Music Guy at St Thomas Episcopal, a healthy, active, growing church with a pretty good contemporary service band and a promising future.


got painted
The Jazz Protagonists got through recording a live show at the home of Scott and Jennifer Rose — a yearly tradition. This particular evening they were celebrating Scott's birthday. On the wall above the piano was a painting hanging, wrapped in birthday wrapping paper. Partway through, Scott tore open the present: an Irene Taylor portrait of the Jazz Protagonists that they will now hang on their wall. What an honor. We look good there.


went to thailand again
where we honeymooned a decade ago. Old places visited (the great city of Bangkok, our little honeymoon island of Koh Chang, off the west coast) and new places explored (the bigger island of Koh Phayam, with its atmosphere of funky abundance). Our special thanks to our families and the Kays, who so lovingly looked after our girls while we were gone. Married for a decade! Please, may the 20th anniversary not come this quickly.


read 1491
Charles C. Mann's riveting history book about life in the Americas before the global culture arrived. If you haven't been following this since your school history class, you're in for a shock: no more sparse bands of horse-riding nomads. America was more populated than Europe; most lived on farms, but there were cities bigger than Paris and London, with running water and wide streets; they knew about zero, and big agriculture; they had accordion-folded books. A wonder on every page — I loved spending time with this great campfire storyteller.


played the St Anthony piano
That beautiful old one-of-a-kind Steinway customized for San Antonio's beautiful old downtown hotel. It's been completely redone. Played great. Bonus: Joshua Bell was in the audience, adding to the number of famous musicians who have heard *me* play. (He said he enjoyed hearing me.)


hit new york again
I'm beginning to like this pattern. A great show with Ken Slavin, lots of time with friends. No landmarks or Broadway this time — just coffee, lunch, and dinner with all my scattered New York fam.


got pepper mills
I grew up with a couple of pepper mills around the table. One was for regular black pepper, the other white (for potatoes and soups, ya know). I decided to do this at our house, but better. Six pepper mills: red, green, black, white, multi, and, uh, one for salt. I'm inordinately pleased with this.


got the girls swim lessons
On Greta's third birthday, in 13, she very nearly drowned. I still get the chills thinking about it. I vowed then and there. So in the spring we took the girls to one of those safety swimming things: no backstrokes or butterflies, just survival. Our 4-year-old became a mermaid; our 18-month-old can be dropped headfirst into the deep end and swim right to the side and get out kind of ticked off. It's an immeasurable relief: these girls are actually quite a bit safer now.


got a new car
Well, not new. (You know me.) A beautiful Chrysler Pacifica that fits our family needs just perfectly. I smile every time I get in.

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What a year. Dedicated to the glory of God.

so, what did you do?

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