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A 6-pack of whatever Christmas beer is on sale, plus a few hours to uncomplicate my life.

I purchased a Yamaha Silent Brass for Tuba. This enables me to practice in my apartment at any hour.

The old Silent Brass for Tuba was disappointing. The sound in the headphones resembled a tuba--in the next room. But with the new modelling technology, the sound in the headphones is much more representative of the sound without the mute. Frankly, it also reveals articulation that might need some "cleaning up."

Having seen demos on small and fairly large tubas (Tom McCaslin with his YCB-826S), I waa confident that the mute would fit in my smaller horns. But I was concerned about the Neptune with its 20.5" bell. The securing belt JUST BARELY stretches far enough to fit.

I'm giving myself time with my family, daughters and granddaughter.

Ace

I'm giving myself (and the wife) a home improvement project. Redoing my kitchen, I've refinished the cabinets and tomorrow a new countertop is being delivered. then just some painting left to do!!

Miraphone Starlight which I am playing for several Christmas concerts already. (A previously owned version, but in perfect shape). My wife has decided that's what she's giving me. Bless her for that.

Stryk wrote:A starter for my Model T

Don't want to be an old crank, huh?

Neotech tuba harness.
Marcinkiewicz N4.
New Scope for the BLR 308.
Best of all - Eric Peterson says he'll deliver my smoothed-out BAT. Completely excited about that!
Merry Christmas.

Actually, I'm giving myself the gift of sleep for a few weeks.

School is over for the semester, so now I can stop staying up until 3 am. Last night, I slept for a solid 8 hours. I can't remember the last time I slept more than 4 or 5 hours. Sleep is great and all, but there simply isn't time for it!

A set of Facom ratchet spanners

World peace.

But i'm spoiled, and don't feel like sharing just yet.

On lighter side, i mean to visit family and the like, but perhaps not until after the 7th day at this point. And if i come across a stray waif of a tuba, i might be willing to provide a home as well...

But tuba-wise, i think i'm gonna work on the patience to put up with longtone exercises...

bloke wrote:Is Facom as good as Pittsburgh ?

(You would have to live/shop in America to get that joke, but "Pittsburgh" are the "Jinbao of tools".)

They are French with a life time guarantee that is worth having.

I have over the years built up for my self a complete Facom field service tool kit as they make my job easier.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festool" target="_blank" target="_blank

Not cheap.

German designed but now made in the USA.

—

All the tools I have bought recently are made in China.

For christmas, I just got myself a benchtop drill press.

My practice room computer died, so I got this today, on sale at Micro Center:

https://www.asus.com/us/Mini-PCs/VivoMini-VC66/" target="_blank

I gave myself payoff of all debt. Yes, all: no mortgage, no car payment, no credit cards, no nothing except the usual monthly utilities, ongoing expenses, and other periodic expenditures.

The corollary new year's resolution: keep it that way.

Alright - we all know we could be hit by lightning or some other unforeseeable event, but saving that: cash basis.

I went to LL Bean and I now look like their catalog cover from 1982.

Anything wrong with that??

Samsung Level U Pro bluetooth headset and a stand light.

Stryk wrote:I also gave myself an very lightly used Blokepiece Orchestra Grand with a Symphony shank. Just came in yesterday - can't wait to try it this morning!

I gave myself an early present of a blokepiece with a solo cup and solo shank. Anything more would have been overkill with my little horn. Once I got used to it, my articulation has definitely improved, and I'm slightly less prone towards blatting.

For my combined holiday (Christmas/anniversary/birthday in the space of about a week) I got a tattoo. Well, the start of one. The music is a mash-up of Ode to Joy and The Best is Yet to Come, on a very long ribbon, starting with an ornate bass clef. I figure in my 40's I am not going to change my mind about loving my music. This is my first tattoo, without any plans to get others.