My 2024 in Pictures

So much happened. SO MUCH.

JANUARY:

Started the year with a layoff from My Fair Lady (I can't believe that tour happened this year?! It feels like ages ago!) During the layoff I got sick with a flu, and so was feeling crappy and on misc medications when I experienced The Worst Travel Day of My Life.

TL;DR: tornado weather in NOLA, and our plane tried to land in it twice before finally giving up and rerouting to Tallahassee. From there the touring company expected us to fly out the next day...by which point the tornado weather would be over Tallahassee. Being sick, on the verge of a nervous breakdown due to flight anxiety, and not interested in an incredibly turbulent flight again, I dug into my own wallet and paid for a rental car (which turned out to be an excellent choice.)

Here is Jim (Production Management) holding my trombone at the NOLA airport where it magically appeared on the same night that we were rerouted.

 

Jim (Production Management) holding my trombone, which somehow landed in NOLA on the same night that we were diverted to Tallahassee.

 

Also in January, I gave my first-ever masterclass in Columbia, SC! Talking to a group of students about what it's like to be a touring musician, tips for how to get into that line of work, and Q&A ranging from health on the road to favorite anime to watch. It was a very rewarding experience, and I hope to do that again someday.

FEBRUARY:

Getting to spend my birthday week with my stepmom and sister in Pittsburgh!

 

Stepmom, me, and sister Kate :)

Later in February, my siblings arranged a 40th birthday trip to Mexico for us! An amazing treat, and finally an opportunity for Jameson to meet my wonderful siblings. All of us together :)

 

My siblings, Jameson, Jonah's girlfriend (now fiancee), and I.

Another magical experience on the Mexico trip was a visit to Rio Secreto, an underground river and cave system. We weren't allowed to take photos, but here is a stock image. If you're ever in Mexico this is a must-see.

 

Rio Secreto stock image

MARCH:

It was women's month (or something like that) so the ladies of the pit orchestra got together for a photo. In touring shows, having six women in the pit is exceedingly rare.

 

Left to right we have Eileen (French horn), Victoria (Flute/reeds), Amanda (Violin), Me, Ellen (Cello), and Laura (drums).

We had an incredible sit in Chicago during St. Patrick's week. I was able to visit Eataly, experience "omakase" sushi for the first time, eat "omurice" for the first time, shop at an Amazon GO, visit a massive 3-story Asian grocery, and try a fantastic flight of Russian vodkas! And much more :)

 

The river dyed green for St. Patrick's Day in Chicago.

Almost forgot to mention that in Albuquerque New Mexico, I got to visit with my dear childhood friend Lauren, and spend time with my stepsister Kayle and her beautiful children!

 

Lauren and I. Lauren is a violinist and has taught hundreds of students in the Southwestern US.

 

APRIL:

Visiting the Pacific Northwest for the first time. Seeing the incredible Spokane Falls. (CLICK HERE to see the video, LJ won't let me embed.)

Other April events: finding out that I'd be sublisted with the Main Street Philharmonic! Getting and then losing a digital court reporting job (they required certification and couldn't be bothered to tell me that before offering the job.) Meeting an LJ friend, geminiwench . And the end of the My Fair Lady tour. The show had been expected to continue on to China, but Annie the Musical took that slot instead.

A goofy photo on stage:

 

Goofy faces

Photo op at the closing party :)

 

And back home, my beautiful vanilla orchid bloomed for the first time :)

 

'nilla orchid blooming!

Finally, Jameson took me to Disney's Animal Kingdom for the first time this month! There were many wonderful things about this visit, but what I remember most is getting to meet the cast of the Finding Nemo live stage show. Amazing!

 

Fishy faces :3

MAY:

Filling in on a Florida Orchestra pops concert! It's been a long time since I did a symphony gig, so this was a very big deal for me.

 

Low brass section

Also during May 2024, my first performances as a substitute musician with the Main Street Philharmonic at the Magic Kingdom. This was...I hardly have words for how I felt. I have dreamed of performing for Disney since I was in high school, and here at the age of 40 it finally happened. It felt like a miracle.

 

Keith (the full time 1st trombonist) and me (his sub.)

A short reel of highlights from my first full day as a trombone sub in the park. Jameson got sunburnt, following us around all day and making sure to take footage. What a hero!

 

JUNE:

A happy month for me, with Main Street Philharmonic rehearsals or sets around once a week. Later on we'd find out that the budget had been cut and I'd get far fewer calls. But I was grateful for the time that I got with the band.

 

Marchy march

Other highlights from June included getting new toilets in the house, my banana tree finally growing some fruit, and finding another Williams trombone in the hands of a guy who was willing to trade for my Minick trombone!

JULY:

I was sublisted with the Orlando Philharmonic, an orchestra I've been trying to get into since moving to Orlando six years ago.

I also lost my data entry job to AI, tried my hand at being an Uber Eats driver, and a few weeks later was hired part time at a Disney Springs hat shop. Got a firefly petunia (genetically engineered to glow in the dark.)

 

It looks ratty now but JUST WAIT.

Ate at Skyline Chili for the first time too!

 

Chili dog, red birch beer, cheesy fries!

AUGUST:

Hurricane Debbie, which blew through with minimal damage to us here in Central Florida.

In addition to the hat shop job, also started doing Papa Pal, which is a service to help the elderly with housekeeping, errands, and companionship. It was often difficult or emotional work, but fulfilling and paid pretty decently too.

SEPTEMBER:

Getting used to work at the hat shop, and taking Hat-A-Day pictures in the back stockroom.

 

One of the better Hat-A-Day photos

Finding out that I'd be going on tour with Elf the Broadway Musical!
Going to Universal's Halloween Horror Nights with Jameson!
Disney's Food & Wine Festival at EPCOT for the first time, to see Jameson perform:

 

Hot stuff!!

Started my federal transcription job. I was so nervous! Still kinda am haha.

Got ready to harvest my bananas!

 

Banans.

Just two months later, and the firefly petunia was in full bloom and glowing SO BRIGHTLY. I was using it as a nightlight.

 

My preciousssss

Hurricane Helene, which again did not impact Central Florida too badly but was devastating to coastal areas :( All we had was a few tree limbs, debris, and this adorable baby turtle who got blown up onto our screens.

 

OMG so cute

OCTOBER:

Hurricane Milton. It's been a stormy season. This storm was the scariest of those we've endured, howling winds and damage to trees and some house fixtures, but overall we weathered it very well.

 

I was able to harvest my bananas right before the storm, and they were excellent.

 

Continued work at the hat shop and Hat-A-Day:

 

Voting. Not that it did any good, apparently.

 

Kicking off Elf the Musical in Richmond, KY.

 

Swag.

NOVEMBER:

Getting some cool new Delta trading cards:

 

Jameson started rehearsals and performances of Jollywood. He also decided that he's going to have surgery to address the nerve issues and atrophy in his right arm.

 

Jealous that he spends time with these ICONS.

Pretty much my only Foodie Find during the Elf tour was this Japanese grocery in Stamford, CT. I could have happily eaten there every day.

 

Eel bento. So good.

An insane 48-hour journey in which I flew from Red Bank NJ to Orlando for Candlelight rehearsal, then flew out at 5am to Milwaukee for an Elf performance same-night. And all I got was this (pretty cool) enamel pin!

 

And then, Thanksgiving and going to see Wicked with Jameson and his parents in Milwaukee!

DECEMBER:

Elf went down to NOLA, where I didn't see much due to loads of transcription work, but got beaned by this cute Etch-A-Sketch prop in the pit!

 

Wanted to keep it but they took it back. Killjoys.

Completed 10+ transcription jobs. Jameson and I both got rejected from misc jobs and auditions that we were really looking forward to :/ Many times on this tour I was given my own dressing room, which is very rare and thus worth mentioning. Held a cacao pod for the first time.

 

If I even knew where to start with one of these I'd get one

Got to visit with my incredible, beautiful Aunt, my mom's sister. I love her so much.

 

On December 19th I got some incredible, incredible news which I can't share yet, but hopefully soon. Unexpectedly bought a bass trombone. Met a facebook trombonist in person by complete happenstance. Flew home to spend Christmas with Jameson, then drove up to Charlotte to finish the final shows of Elf the Musical.

 

It's been QUITE the year. Mainly lots of musical opportunities resulting from onboarding with Disney via Candlelight in October 2023. Going on tour with My Fair Lady was a great experience, and getting to tour with Elf was also an unexpected pleasure.

But music is not very lucrative, and financially I was a bit in the doldrums this year. Really hoping to pick myself back up in 2025.

Plant-wise, watching the vanilla orchid bloom and eating bananas that I've grown myself were the definite highlights!

Where Jameson is concerned, his year was not nearly as fun as mine. I'm hoping that 2025 will be kinder to him, and will reveal opportunities and new paths for him.

Thanks for joining me for 2024. Here's to a great 2025 for all of us, wherever we may be, whatever our circumstances. <3