And Now I'm in Boise Apparently
I felt lowkey lousy on Monday, likely due to stress and having pinched some nerve somewhere while carving pumpkins. The joys of getting old I suppose, hunching over a big gourd with your arm in the air for two hours is no longer a thing you can do without consequences.
I got up early because I wanted to take a trip to the Millenia Mall area, which is about a 30 minute drive.
My main reason for going was to get Jameson an early birthday present, a bottle of Parce rum (he likes it a lot, mainly because the Cubs endorse it but it IS pretty good.) I also saw a mid-sized bottle of Skrewball peanut butter whiskey so got that too (our local stores have either a really big bottle or the tiny single-shot bottles and nothing in between)
Side-quest 2: getting a foam cone from a craft store. You know, the green ones that you are supposed to stick flowers into or stick into vases or whatever. They make a great packing material for trombone bells, to protect them during shipping or transit. You just stuff one in the bell, ideally wrapped in a thin cloth or something. Got that at Hobby Lobby and enjoyed looking around a bit and listening to their Christian music (howevermuch I may roll my eyes, it does make me nostalgic for childhood and home) then moved on to Target for oatmeal and a black towel for the pit. Got the oatmeal but small black hand towels were freaking $13 so screw that.
Then to a Dollar Tree hoping to find cheap flip flops for hotel rooms (success) and a stiff-sided tote bag for my mutes (fail.) What's frustrating is that I HAD all of these things, but was not offered a tour after Tootsie ended so assumed I wasn't going back out, and left a lot of useful stuff in our last hotel room with a "FREE PLEASE TAKE" sign on it. At least it was cheap stuff.
Anyway, final side-quest was a trip to The Container Store. I've never been to one but was really hopeful to find a good food box. You can get rectangular Sterilite containers at Target or Walmart, but I've had two of those shatter in my luggage because the plastic is brittle/cheap and the lids don't latch well either. Plus I hate that they have tapered sides, with the tops wider than the base, that makes them really annoying to pack. There were soooo many containers of the almost-right size. I finally found what I wanted in the food section: a 6-quart container that was more square than rectangle, made of a thick and less rigid plastic (good for taking hits and shocks inside luggage) and with a lid that latches on four sides instead of two.
The only thing that I did not find today was the stiff tote bag and the black towel.
Back home, unpacked everything and showed Jameson the liquor so he'd know to enjoy it, then tried out the new food box.
It's great! Plenty of room for all of my stuff, and the shape is much more convenient. I hope it survives well.
New container on left, old one on right. Believe it or not they are nearly the same size, just different shapes.
I ate lunch and went back to re-packing, weighing my luggage again because it somehow got overweight from adding misc food items and trying to add my pea coat back in. By the time I was done my luggage was how I wanted it but I had a blazing tension headache...and I'd forgotten about therapy!! Luckily I was only a few minutes late.
This was my last therapy session, and it ended "not with a bang but a whimper."
The therapist reached me from some very public place with a lot of noise in the background, it was clear that neither of us really had time or attention for this today, but he knew it was likely my last session so wanted to reach out and wish me luck, see how I was feeling, etc. Right at that moment I was feeling like my head was gonna crack like an egg, but I ignored it and thanked him for everything, and promised to reconnect if I rejoined BetterHelp in the future. He really was an excellent therapist, and I learned a great deal that I think will be helpful. I canceled my BetterHelp subscription right after our session.
In the evening after Jameson left for rehearsal, I had a glass of cheap wine and decided to go for a walk even though the sun was nearly down. I don't usually walk this late...it was nice despite being SO hot and humid. The streets were empty and quiet; every time I stepped on a fallen acorn the snap of the breaking shell echoed and bounced off the houses.
Along the way I found this toad. He was absolutely horrified by me so I didn't hold him hostage long.
I took a shorter route than usual because it was quite dark, and because I had mostly wanted to think, not exercise.
Somehow this tour snuck up on me. Like, part of me never accepted that it was really happening. It took months and months to finalize that I was actually signed on, and then all of the Disney Candlelight stuff, and then data entry day after day, neverending...it never felt real this time. And so a part of me is upset and frantic when it shouldn't be, like as though this is all happening too fast. Well it's not. I have everything that I need, and if I don't I can just buy it, and there are people to help me and guide me once I'm there, and I know the music as well as I can. I am as prepared as I can be, and the only thing left is to go Do The Thing.
Just as I was getting back to the house I noticed a streak of reddish light in the sky.
A rocket launch.
Back home, typing this up and doing my last load of laundry. God I'll miss having regular access to a washer and dryer.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, Jameson's overnight Disney rehearsal went until nearly 2:30am, so we both slept in as hard as we could.
I was still up at 8:30am, but didn't eat breakfast until nearly an hour later. Coffee was enough.
Drove to Dollar General and Lo! They had the stiff-sided totes! The exact same pattern that I had previously, even. Score.
I also popped into Publix for my Travel Bagel and Travel Apple because they may save my ass if there's no time to grab lunch. Back home, REALLY packing this time. Everything into the suitcase and weighed. 48 pounds, which isn't great but not terrible considering I usually travel with two suitcases.
Then I practiced one last time, going over trouble spots, and wiped down and packed up my trombone, taping the outer latches shut. Only the middle latch locks so I made sure to do that. The trombone case is so much larger this time that I assume it has to be checked, which I don't like but it can't be helped. The one good thing in all this is I'll get to walk through the airport with just my backpack. What a dream!
The rest of the day seemed to fly by. I didn't do a lot...I felt distracted. Perhaps worked on Foodie Finds a bit, and watched anime, and didn't dust the bookshelf like I'd said I would.
We had no trick-or-treaters...sadly this is a vacation rental area, so people take their kids elsewhere knowing the majority of houses here won't be occupied at this time of year.
We watched the finale of The Fall of the House of Usher. It was such a good series, I'd definitely watch it again.
And then suddenly it was time for bed.
Am I ready? Sheesh. I don't know.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Not surprisingly, I slept pretty poorly.
I was up at 5:45 to get dressed and make a cup of coffee, and have some time to myself.
Jameson got up at 7 and got me to the airport, where we hugged goodbye. I hate that part.
Security was way faster than usual, so I had time to eat a small breakfast before the first flight.
The flight was on time but the layover in DFW was so short that I had to run to the next terminal, and was one of the last people on the plane. Not many people going to Boise, though, so there was plenty of room on the plane and we all got to move around a bit. And both flights were very smooth and comfortable.
And my trombone made it safely! Yay! Glad I invested in a good case :)
It looks like the TSA may have done a little inspection of it, too. I've never gotten a sticker like this before.
Wonder if they were disappointed to find a boring trombone in there.
I Ubered to the hotel, and was surprised to arrive right when the tour bus pulled up with the cast!
They bussed over from Logan, Utah where rehearsals have been going on for the past several weeks.
It was strange to be a part of this tour, yet not know anyone. But on the way to our rooms I got to introduce myself to a few people, and that was nice. Tomorrow we're supposed to have a company dinner, and maybe I can make some connections there.
I texted the MD to see if the band had any work to do. Nope!
So it was off to the grocery! Not just any grocery: Boise Co-op!
It was within easy walking distance, and the weather was lovely, dry and chilly and fall-like.
Ah, I've been craving this!
The co-op was great. Expensive, but that's kinda the thing: whether you shop at Walmart or a co-op, you get what you pay for.
Celery root! It was the size of a dodge ball!
What the heck are kiwi berries? I'd never heard of them before so had to get 'em.
Turns out they're just a mini variety of kiwi that you can eat whole. Yum!
I got some beautiful-looking bok choy and some maple roasted squash, and all of my usual tour groceries, and a bunch of local goodies to try!
I haven't tried anything but the bread so far. It was DELICIOUS.
Chewy, crunchy crust. Super-fluff interior. Pieces of rosemary evenly distributed throughout the dough. Wonderful!
And we have toasters in our rooms too. I sense some yummy herb turkey melts in my future.
I spent the rest of the night unpacking and remembering how tour life goes.
By the time 9pm rolled around I felt exhausted, but tried to stay up as late as I could.
Gotta adjust fast to that time change.
------------------------------------------------------------
And so it begins.
Tomorrow the band has rehearsal for most of the day, then we have the full company dinner.
I'm nervous, but hopeful.
I got up early because I wanted to take a trip to the Millenia Mall area, which is about a 30 minute drive.
My main reason for going was to get Jameson an early birthday present, a bottle of Parce rum (he likes it a lot, mainly because the Cubs endorse it but it IS pretty good.) I also saw a mid-sized bottle of Skrewball peanut butter whiskey so got that too (our local stores have either a really big bottle or the tiny single-shot bottles and nothing in between)
Side-quest 2: getting a foam cone from a craft store. You know, the green ones that you are supposed to stick flowers into or stick into vases or whatever. They make a great packing material for trombone bells, to protect them during shipping or transit. You just stuff one in the bell, ideally wrapped in a thin cloth or something. Got that at Hobby Lobby and enjoyed looking around a bit and listening to their Christian music (howevermuch I may roll my eyes, it does make me nostalgic for childhood and home) then moved on to Target for oatmeal and a black towel for the pit. Got the oatmeal but small black hand towels were freaking $13 so screw that.
Then to a Dollar Tree hoping to find cheap flip flops for hotel rooms (success) and a stiff-sided tote bag for my mutes (fail.) What's frustrating is that I HAD all of these things, but was not offered a tour after Tootsie ended so assumed I wasn't going back out, and left a lot of useful stuff in our last hotel room with a "FREE PLEASE TAKE" sign on it. At least it was cheap stuff.
Anyway, final side-quest was a trip to The Container Store. I've never been to one but was really hopeful to find a good food box. You can get rectangular Sterilite containers at Target or Walmart, but I've had two of those shatter in my luggage because the plastic is brittle/cheap and the lids don't latch well either. Plus I hate that they have tapered sides, with the tops wider than the base, that makes them really annoying to pack. There were soooo many containers of the almost-right size. I finally found what I wanted in the food section: a 6-quart container that was more square than rectangle, made of a thick and less rigid plastic (good for taking hits and shocks inside luggage) and with a lid that latches on four sides instead of two.
The only thing that I did not find today was the stiff tote bag and the black towel.
Back home, unpacked everything and showed Jameson the liquor so he'd know to enjoy it, then tried out the new food box.
It's great! Plenty of room for all of my stuff, and the shape is much more convenient. I hope it survives well.
New container on left, old one on right. Believe it or not they are nearly the same size, just different shapes.
I ate lunch and went back to re-packing, weighing my luggage again because it somehow got overweight from adding misc food items and trying to add my pea coat back in. By the time I was done my luggage was how I wanted it but I had a blazing tension headache...and I'd forgotten about therapy!! Luckily I was only a few minutes late.
This was my last therapy session, and it ended "not with a bang but a whimper."
The therapist reached me from some very public place with a lot of noise in the background, it was clear that neither of us really had time or attention for this today, but he knew it was likely my last session so wanted to reach out and wish me luck, see how I was feeling, etc. Right at that moment I was feeling like my head was gonna crack like an egg, but I ignored it and thanked him for everything, and promised to reconnect if I rejoined BetterHelp in the future. He really was an excellent therapist, and I learned a great deal that I think will be helpful. I canceled my BetterHelp subscription right after our session.
In the evening after Jameson left for rehearsal, I had a glass of cheap wine and decided to go for a walk even though the sun was nearly down. I don't usually walk this late...it was nice despite being SO hot and humid. The streets were empty and quiet; every time I stepped on a fallen acorn the snap of the breaking shell echoed and bounced off the houses.
Along the way I found this toad. He was absolutely horrified by me so I didn't hold him hostage long.
I took a shorter route than usual because it was quite dark, and because I had mostly wanted to think, not exercise.
Somehow this tour snuck up on me. Like, part of me never accepted that it was really happening. It took months and months to finalize that I was actually signed on, and then all of the Disney Candlelight stuff, and then data entry day after day, neverending...it never felt real this time. And so a part of me is upset and frantic when it shouldn't be, like as though this is all happening too fast. Well it's not. I have everything that I need, and if I don't I can just buy it, and there are people to help me and guide me once I'm there, and I know the music as well as I can. I am as prepared as I can be, and the only thing left is to go Do The Thing.
Just as I was getting back to the house I noticed a streak of reddish light in the sky.
A rocket launch.
Back home, typing this up and doing my last load of laundry. God I'll miss having regular access to a washer and dryer.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, Jameson's overnight Disney rehearsal went until nearly 2:30am, so we both slept in as hard as we could.
I was still up at 8:30am, but didn't eat breakfast until nearly an hour later. Coffee was enough.
Drove to Dollar General and Lo! They had the stiff-sided totes! The exact same pattern that I had previously, even. Score.
I also popped into Publix for my Travel Bagel and Travel Apple because they may save my ass if there's no time to grab lunch. Back home, REALLY packing this time. Everything into the suitcase and weighed. 48 pounds, which isn't great but not terrible considering I usually travel with two suitcases.
Then I practiced one last time, going over trouble spots, and wiped down and packed up my trombone, taping the outer latches shut. Only the middle latch locks so I made sure to do that. The trombone case is so much larger this time that I assume it has to be checked, which I don't like but it can't be helped. The one good thing in all this is I'll get to walk through the airport with just my backpack. What a dream!
The rest of the day seemed to fly by. I didn't do a lot...I felt distracted. Perhaps worked on Foodie Finds a bit, and watched anime, and didn't dust the bookshelf like I'd said I would.
We had no trick-or-treaters...sadly this is a vacation rental area, so people take their kids elsewhere knowing the majority of houses here won't be occupied at this time of year.
We watched the finale of The Fall of the House of Usher. It was such a good series, I'd definitely watch it again.
And then suddenly it was time for bed.
Am I ready? Sheesh. I don't know.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Not surprisingly, I slept pretty poorly.
I was up at 5:45 to get dressed and make a cup of coffee, and have some time to myself.
Jameson got up at 7 and got me to the airport, where we hugged goodbye. I hate that part.
Security was way faster than usual, so I had time to eat a small breakfast before the first flight.
The flight was on time but the layover in DFW was so short that I had to run to the next terminal, and was one of the last people on the plane. Not many people going to Boise, though, so there was plenty of room on the plane and we all got to move around a bit. And both flights were very smooth and comfortable.
And my trombone made it safely! Yay! Glad I invested in a good case :)
It looks like the TSA may have done a little inspection of it, too. I've never gotten a sticker like this before.
Wonder if they were disappointed to find a boring trombone in there.
I Ubered to the hotel, and was surprised to arrive right when the tour bus pulled up with the cast!
They bussed over from Logan, Utah where rehearsals have been going on for the past several weeks.
It was strange to be a part of this tour, yet not know anyone. But on the way to our rooms I got to introduce myself to a few people, and that was nice. Tomorrow we're supposed to have a company dinner, and maybe I can make some connections there.
I texted the MD to see if the band had any work to do. Nope!
So it was off to the grocery! Not just any grocery: Boise Co-op!
It was within easy walking distance, and the weather was lovely, dry and chilly and fall-like.
Ah, I've been craving this!
The co-op was great. Expensive, but that's kinda the thing: whether you shop at Walmart or a co-op, you get what you pay for.
Celery root! It was the size of a dodge ball!
What the heck are kiwi berries? I'd never heard of them before so had to get 'em.
Turns out they're just a mini variety of kiwi that you can eat whole. Yum!
I got some beautiful-looking bok choy and some maple roasted squash, and all of my usual tour groceries, and a bunch of local goodies to try!
I haven't tried anything but the bread so far. It was DELICIOUS.
Chewy, crunchy crust. Super-fluff interior. Pieces of rosemary evenly distributed throughout the dough. Wonderful!
And we have toasters in our rooms too. I sense some yummy herb turkey melts in my future.
I spent the rest of the night unpacking and remembering how tour life goes.
By the time 9pm rolled around I felt exhausted, but tried to stay up as late as I could.
Gotta adjust fast to that time change.
------------------------------------------------------------
And so it begins.
Tomorrow the band has rehearsal for most of the day, then we have the full company dinner.
I'm nervous, but hopeful.