Reflections on 2025
Jan. 1st, 2026 08:55 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
taz_39Reflecting on things that happened this year, good and bad.
JANUARY
★ I bought a bass trombone to start practicing for Beauty and the Beast. It was damaged in shipping, and a friend graciously offered to repair it over Christmas.
★ Jameson had carpal tunnel surgery, which was largely successful and beneficial.
★ Mice took up residence in my car while I was away on tour, causing $8000 worth of damage, most of which was covered by insurance.
★ I auditioned for an Epic Universe band. I had no idea what I was in for.
★ Had a few rehearsal days with Main Street Philharmonic, always a lot of fun :)
★ Got the job at Epic Universe, and plunged into five straight weeks of intense, all-day rehearsals for Place Cachee Jazz.
★ A relevant Friday Five that I did halfway through January (CLICK HERE to read.)
--- --- --- --- --- ---
FEBRUARY
★ Jameson took me to Be Our Guest restaurant (I'd never been.) It was amazing, and extra emotional knowing I'd be joining that show soon!
★ Turned 41. Took this photo illegally INSIDE Epic Universe months before it was open to the public :p
★ Got to try/preview butterbeer crepes, visit the Dark Universe and Super Nintendo World, audit other musicians performing at the Burning Blades Tavern, and other treats and previews of Epic Universe well before it opened!
★ Had my photo taken from a helicopter. That's a first!
★ Performed several times with Main Street Phil. Wow, I was blessed to be rehearsing/performing at Universal/Disney at the same time!
--- --- --- --- --- ---
MARCH
★ More Epic rehearsals, higher levels of tension as park opening drew near. We were audited quite a lot by WB execs and the creative team when they were around. Mariah and I at the countdown clock:
★ More time at Main Street Phil as well.
★ For the first time ever I was offered the chance to do an international tour. It would have been with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I had to turn it down because the dates were the same as Beauty and the Beast's, and I wasn't about to give that up!!
--- --- --- --- --- ---
APRIL
★ Jameson and I got to spend a whole day previewing Epic Universe before it opened to the public!!
(CLICK HERE to see pics and read about the full day)
★ Jameson started having more interviews for Disney corporate around this time. I remember feeling anxious for him, and worried that any more rejections would be the straw that would break his back.
★ For the first time someone took photos of one of our Place Cachee Jazz sets! We got the first full recording of our set this month as well.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
MAY
★ Got to see Jameson perform at EPCOT with The Hooligans during the Flower & Garden Festival.
★ Epic performances are in full swing, I am there 2-3 days per week performing.
★ I have discovered the joys of the Snack Pod (actually a large-scale pill container that I used for snacks!)
★ We got new sinks installed in both bathrooms.
★ The casting list for Beauty and the Beast finally went up, so I could finally share my involvement!! Exciting!!
★ And just a few days later...Jameson was offered a job with Disney Event Group!!!
We officially became a Disney Power Couple, a House of Mouse if you will :p
★ We had the Most Fantastic Day At Disney Ever to celebrate our career success, including an incredible 50% off dinner at The Brown Derby, riding Rise of the Resistance with only a 10 minute wait, getting to see Muppet Vision 3D one more time before it closed forever, and more
(CLICK HERE to see pics and read about the whole day)
★ Epic Universe finally, officially opened to the public.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
JUNE
★ A fun and busy month where I worked at Epic as Phillipa, Jameson got the hang of his new job, and we used our Disney Dining Discount coupons at Flying Fish which was an incredible experience.
★ Jameson was sent to one of the Disney cruise ships in the Bahamas to help produce/rehearse a band for the Rapunzel show.
★ I had my last performance dates at Epic Universe. Bittersweet...I'd still show up as a sub, but never again as a regular member.
★ On Wednesday June 11, I traveled to Schenectady to begin tech rehearsals with Beauty and the Beast!!
★ This is the first UNION tour I've ever been on. First one with a logo truck, too.
★ During tech I ended up buying a new bass trombone after recognizing the one I'd blind-bought was not a good fit for me. This whole period was scary as I wasn't sure I was good enough for this tour on bass to begin with, and was still working SO hard to get it under my belt, practicing every day in addition to daily rehearsals. But it all worked out in the end :)
★ First band outing with my new coworkers.
★ And first preview performances with an audience. I could not believe I was here, and getting to perform this show.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
JULY
★ We finished Beauty and the Beast tech rehearsals, and then I had a really weird layoff in the Chicago suburbs so that I could visit O'Malley trombones...
★ ...and attend the show's opening night performance and party!
★ Was able to go home to Pennsylvania for a short visit with my sisters, their husbands and children, and other family.
★ My Aunt came to visit, and we went to EPCOT! It was very hot but we had a lovely time.
★ Our AC broke to the tune of $12,000 right after my Aunt left! Jameson had to foot the bill for that one :/
--- --- --- --- --- ---
AUGUST
★ Touched a $1300 shoe.
★ Tried grilled lamb heart at Vinai in Minneapolis. It was excellent!
★ Signed my first Beauty and the Beast wall tag.
★ Had a corn-flavored cocktail (it was REALLY good)
★ Jameson had a wisdom tooth extraction (very quick and successful!)
--- --- --- --- --- ---
SEPTEMBER
★ I got sick (first of two times uuugh) while the tour was in Durham.
★ Seaweed bagel!
★ Gingersnap burnt honeycomb ice cream!
★ My Aunt visited while we were in Durham, and she took me for an amazing lunch and showed me some of the local sights!
(CLICK HERE for pics and full post)
★ Banana pudding sweetcorn ice cream in North Charleston!
★ Presented a masterclass to a local trombone studio near Greensboro!
★ Rode a vintage elevator:
★ I felt intense gratitude. (CLICK HERE for full post.)
--- --- --- --- --- ---
OCTOBER
★ Jameson went to Hawaii for the first time, for a wedding! And got to eat lots of wonderful things, and got a commemorative tattoo!
★ My sister Raven came to visit, and we went to Animal Kingdom! It was rainy but fun! (CLICK HERE for pics and full post)
★ Got pulled over for speeding in Appleton, WI, but was let go with a warning.
★ I got sick AGAIN, wtf! Some sort of chest/bacterial thing. Awful!
★ The best pork schnitzel and spaetzle I've ever had (Appleton, WI)
★ Got OBSESSED with the new season of Hazbin Hotel and specifically the character Alastor, who is very INTJ-coded.
★ Was The Grey Stuff for Halloween :D
--- --- --- --- --- ---
NOVEMBER
★ Fantastic hot chicken in Nashville!
★ Also, these incredible Creole-Asian-fusion rice cakes!
★ Jameson turned 44! And hated it.
★ Met Susan Egan in person and chatted with her!
★ Re-upped my theme park castmembership with a 42-hour Round-Trip Rehearsal Extravaganza! (CLICK HERE for pics and full post)
★ We received our schedule for the 2026-2027 season!! Look forward to it!!
★ We were treated to an incredible Thanksgiving steak dinner in San Antonio! Open bar woooooot
--- --- --- --- --- ---
DECEMBER
★ Jameson performed with Good Charlotte!
★ I rode in a self-driving car!
(stock image courtesy Axios)
★ I participated in bus choreography :p
★ Visited with my Aunt in Austin, where we saw the sights and ate good food together.
★ Went to the new Beak & Barrel and nearly got ship-wrecked.
★ Performed at Candlelight four times, once on bass trombone (a first!)
★ On December 31st, the last day of this year, I sold my car. This is the first time I've been without a car since I was 15 years old.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Closing Thoughts
It's been an AMAZING year, and largely positive for both of us compared to other years. We know that things change over time, there will be ups and downs, and I think Jameson and I are both in awe of and appreciative of how 2025 has gone for us. This year will live in our memories as the year our lives changed for the better career-wise. 2026 looks good on paper, but a lot can happen in this crazy world. For now we can only appreciate what we have....the amazing moments, and close calls, and frustrations, and joys, that have come and gone...and those that have yet to be.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Honorable Mention: Critters Of The Year
★ This year I met a glass lizard, a huge orb weaver, a praying mantis, and a gorgeous red-shouldered hawk who looked at me like it knew me.
JANUARY
★ I bought a bass trombone to start practicing for Beauty and the Beast. It was damaged in shipping, and a friend graciously offered to repair it over Christmas.
★ Jameson had carpal tunnel surgery, which was largely successful and beneficial.
★ Mice took up residence in my car while I was away on tour, causing $8000 worth of damage, most of which was covered by insurance.
★ I auditioned for an Epic Universe band. I had no idea what I was in for.
★ Had a few rehearsal days with Main Street Philharmonic, always a lot of fun :)
★ Got the job at Epic Universe, and plunged into five straight weeks of intense, all-day rehearsals for Place Cachee Jazz.
★ A relevant Friday Five that I did halfway through January (CLICK HERE to read.)
--- --- --- --- --- ---
FEBRUARY
★ Jameson took me to Be Our Guest restaurant (I'd never been.) It was amazing, and extra emotional knowing I'd be joining that show soon!
★ Turned 41. Took this photo illegally INSIDE Epic Universe months before it was open to the public :p
★ Got to try/preview butterbeer crepes, visit the Dark Universe and Super Nintendo World, audit other musicians performing at the Burning Blades Tavern, and other treats and previews of Epic Universe well before it opened!
★ Had my photo taken from a helicopter. That's a first!
★ Performed several times with Main Street Phil. Wow, I was blessed to be rehearsing/performing at Universal/Disney at the same time!
--- --- --- --- --- ---
MARCH
★ More Epic rehearsals, higher levels of tension as park opening drew near. We were audited quite a lot by WB execs and the creative team when they were around. Mariah and I at the countdown clock:
★ More time at Main Street Phil as well.
★ For the first time ever I was offered the chance to do an international tour. It would have been with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I had to turn it down because the dates were the same as Beauty and the Beast's, and I wasn't about to give that up!!
--- --- --- --- --- ---
APRIL
★ Jameson and I got to spend a whole day previewing Epic Universe before it opened to the public!!
(CLICK HERE to see pics and read about the full day)
★ Jameson started having more interviews for Disney corporate around this time. I remember feeling anxious for him, and worried that any more rejections would be the straw that would break his back.
★ For the first time someone took photos of one of our Place Cachee Jazz sets! We got the first full recording of our set this month as well.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
MAY
★ Got to see Jameson perform at EPCOT with The Hooligans during the Flower & Garden Festival.
★ Epic performances are in full swing, I am there 2-3 days per week performing.
★ I have discovered the joys of the Snack Pod (actually a large-scale pill container that I used for snacks!)
★ We got new sinks installed in both bathrooms.
★ The casting list for Beauty and the Beast finally went up, so I could finally share my involvement!! Exciting!!
★ And just a few days later...Jameson was offered a job with Disney Event Group!!!
We officially became a Disney Power Couple, a House of Mouse if you will :p
★ We had the Most Fantastic Day At Disney Ever to celebrate our career success, including an incredible 50% off dinner at The Brown Derby, riding Rise of the Resistance with only a 10 minute wait, getting to see Muppet Vision 3D one more time before it closed forever, and more
(CLICK HERE to see pics and read about the whole day)
★ Epic Universe finally, officially opened to the public.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
JUNE
★ A fun and busy month where I worked at Epic as Phillipa, Jameson got the hang of his new job, and we used our Disney Dining Discount coupons at Flying Fish which was an incredible experience.
★ Jameson was sent to one of the Disney cruise ships in the Bahamas to help produce/rehearse a band for the Rapunzel show.
★ I had my last performance dates at Epic Universe. Bittersweet...I'd still show up as a sub, but never again as a regular member.
★ On Wednesday June 11, I traveled to Schenectady to begin tech rehearsals with Beauty and the Beast!!
★ This is the first UNION tour I've ever been on. First one with a logo truck, too.
★ During tech I ended up buying a new bass trombone after recognizing the one I'd blind-bought was not a good fit for me. This whole period was scary as I wasn't sure I was good enough for this tour on bass to begin with, and was still working SO hard to get it under my belt, practicing every day in addition to daily rehearsals. But it all worked out in the end :)
★ First band outing with my new coworkers.
★ And first preview performances with an audience. I could not believe I was here, and getting to perform this show.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
JULY
★ We finished Beauty and the Beast tech rehearsals, and then I had a really weird layoff in the Chicago suburbs so that I could visit O'Malley trombones...
★ ...and attend the show's opening night performance and party!
★ Was able to go home to Pennsylvania for a short visit with my sisters, their husbands and children, and other family.
★ My Aunt came to visit, and we went to EPCOT! It was very hot but we had a lovely time.
★ Our AC broke to the tune of $12,000 right after my Aunt left! Jameson had to foot the bill for that one :/
--- --- --- --- --- ---
AUGUST
★ Touched a $1300 shoe.
★ Tried grilled lamb heart at Vinai in Minneapolis. It was excellent!
★ Signed my first Beauty and the Beast wall tag.
★ Had a corn-flavored cocktail (it was REALLY good)
★ Jameson had a wisdom tooth extraction (very quick and successful!)
--- --- --- --- --- ---
SEPTEMBER
★ I got sick (first of two times uuugh) while the tour was in Durham.
★ Seaweed bagel!
★ Gingersnap burnt honeycomb ice cream!
★ My Aunt visited while we were in Durham, and she took me for an amazing lunch and showed me some of the local sights!
(CLICK HERE for pics and full post)
★ Banana pudding sweetcorn ice cream in North Charleston!
★ Presented a masterclass to a local trombone studio near Greensboro!
★ Rode a vintage elevator:
★ I felt intense gratitude. (CLICK HERE for full post.)
--- --- --- --- --- ---
OCTOBER
★ Jameson went to Hawaii for the first time, for a wedding! And got to eat lots of wonderful things, and got a commemorative tattoo!
★ My sister Raven came to visit, and we went to Animal Kingdom! It was rainy but fun! (CLICK HERE for pics and full post)
★ Got pulled over for speeding in Appleton, WI, but was let go with a warning.
★ I got sick AGAIN, wtf! Some sort of chest/bacterial thing. Awful!
★ The best pork schnitzel and spaetzle I've ever had (Appleton, WI)
★ Got OBSESSED with the new season of Hazbin Hotel and specifically the character Alastor, who is very INTJ-coded.
★ Was The Grey Stuff for Halloween :D
--- --- --- --- --- ---
NOVEMBER
★ Fantastic hot chicken in Nashville!
★ Also, these incredible Creole-Asian-fusion rice cakes!
★ Jameson turned 44! And hated it.
★ Met Susan Egan in person and chatted with her!
★ Re-upped my theme park castmembership with a 42-hour Round-Trip Rehearsal Extravaganza! (CLICK HERE for pics and full post)
★ We received our schedule for the 2026-2027 season!! Look forward to it!!
★ We were treated to an incredible Thanksgiving steak dinner in San Antonio! Open bar woooooot
--- --- --- --- --- ---
DECEMBER
★ Jameson performed with Good Charlotte!
★ I rode in a self-driving car!
(stock image courtesy Axios)
★ I participated in bus choreography :p
★ Visited with my Aunt in Austin, where we saw the sights and ate good food together.
★ Went to the new Beak & Barrel and nearly got ship-wrecked.
★ Performed at Candlelight four times, once on bass trombone (a first!)
★ On December 31st, the last day of this year, I sold my car. This is the first time I've been without a car since I was 15 years old.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Closing Thoughts
It's been an AMAZING year, and largely positive for both of us compared to other years. We know that things change over time, there will be ups and downs, and I think Jameson and I are both in awe of and appreciative of how 2025 has gone for us. This year will live in our memories as the year our lives changed for the better career-wise. 2026 looks good on paper, but a lot can happen in this crazy world. For now we can only appreciate what we have....the amazing moments, and close calls, and frustrations, and joys, that have come and gone...and those that have yet to be.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Honorable Mention: Critters Of The Year
★ This year I met a glass lizard, a huge orb weaver, a praying mantis, and a gorgeous red-shouldered hawk who looked at me like it knew me.
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no subject
Date: 2026-01-01 04:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-01-01 09:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-01-01 07:04 pm (UTC)This was cool to see this recap since I only "met" you a little while ago. I have some more backstory over why you keep writing about how great this year has been for you.
Happy New Year!
no subject
Date: 2026-01-01 07:13 pm (UTC)Thank you :) Here is even more backstory: for the past several years, I have been working minimum wage odd jobs to get by while working very hard to get into the touring scene. I scrubbed toilets for the elderly, sat with hospice patients, transcribed court cases, digitized nursing home paperwork, and worked retail at a hat shop, among other jobs. People who’ve been reading my blog for the past 5 years know: Jameson and I have both struggled A LOT. For a LONG time. And this year, somehow, we both got what we were working toward, almost at the same time. It’s really…unbelievable. Like actually beyond belief, for both of us.
Nothing lasts, so we both kind of stare at this year in awe and just try to treasure it. Who knows what’s ahead but we at least had this year and this moment where we “made it,” where we finally reached our goals after years of chasing them.
Anyway. Yeah. :)
no subject
Date: 2026-01-02 03:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-01-02 03:30 am (UTC)My aunt has had a hard year(s). She's going through a "silent divorce," which apparently is a real thing...normally I'd come to visit her, but this year she's made efforts to come to ME, which shows how much she has needed to get away from home. I was glad to be able to accommodate her with that.
Vinai was awesome. The other Hmong place, called Diane's Place, was also incredible (I got a pandan croissant to go and it was fantastic)
no subject
Date: 2026-01-02 04:06 am (UTC)I didn't make it to Diane's Place either. I'll have to go to both whenever I next go to MSP.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-02 09:55 am (UTC)Gotta say, I've really enjoyed the Hazbin gushings here. They kept me excited when I couldn't watch season 2 myself as it came out, due to a whole lot of really bad things happening locally that have kept me busy. Did finally get to watch the whole thing in one go a few days? Weeks? ago, and oh man oh man oh man, I am SO impatient for season 3 already. I can't wait to see how the story is expanded now that it's four seasons instead of three. Gotta listen to all the songs again too, because there was something weird going on where every time a song came on, the volume would drop by like half for the entire duration. Probably Glen's TV doing something weird, but it meant I couldn't hear much of the lyrics and missed out on some bits.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-02 02:25 pm (UTC)Ooooh I hope I didn't inadvertently spoil anything for you (mostly where Alastor is concerned.) I was definitely already warming up to Hazbin Hotel before S2E4, but then...as soon as Alastor left Rosie's followed by losing the fight with Vox, I effing KNEW. Because I've done that same seemingly-insane intj sh*t in my own life!! The "suffering in the moment for the bigger payout" thing!! As soon as he lost to Vox my lightbulb went off and I was like, "YES! THIS! YES, KING!" lol.
Obviously I'm not over here picking fights with my arch nemesis haha but what I mean is like, the time I sacrificed two weeks of work with My Fair Lady to be available for Disney's Candlelight. Everyone thought I was nuts, fellow musicians included. I gave up basically $1600 of guaranteed pay, for two weeks of sitting around hoping that Disney would call. It seems crazy on the surface (a la letting yourself get captured by a TV head), but it was necessary for the end goal. And if you've played your cards right the payout is so worth it.
Which it was!! I ended up getting not only two days of Candlelight that year during the time I made available for them ($600), but also YEARS' worth of work, WAY more than the $1600 I had sacrificed, solely because I had performed at Candlelight that year. So while Alastor was sitting in his cuck chair next to Vox's bed or being paraded through Hell, etc etc, I was just over the moon cackling and thinking of how satisfying it would be when his plan paid off. Not if...WHEN it paid off. #justintjthings
And that Vivienne or whoever wrote a character like that...SO awesome. I rarely get to see it in any kind of cinema. The show overall is great but I am SUCH an Alastor simp for the time being :p