"the holidays"

I was told to show up at the old elementary school for Christmas Caroling. I was told that the mayor and Santa would be there, but neither showed. I'll tell you who did show. A drunk organizer. It was below 30 degrees and I was a bit concerned about frostbite. I suggested to the organizer that we move, not stand still because of the dangerous cold. He said we can't we have to wait for the others. Although I was 10 minutes early there was no opportunity for socializing because 2 journalists showed up at the same time as I and began to immediately interview the 5 people (not me) who were with me.

I was pleased that my singing voice did decide to work. I tried to walk around to see the beautiful lights (which you'll see on the t.v. spot I just learned of today) but I couldn't cuz of the ice.

After about 3 songs (I asked who our audience is) and D. said "we are our own audience) we were asked to go the the restaurant.

We were asked to get up on the stage but that didn't make much sense to me because there was a sports game being televised on a screen behind us! When the waitress asked no one in particular if she should turn off the game I said "Absolutely yes"

Yet, we were up there more than 5 minutes before they turned the game off. I had to shield my eyes from the video camera. D. would typically start the singing before waiting for people to find their page.

He said we can go order anything we want drink wise. I began to order a drink, drink and then realized that he is likely wrong about it being free. So I asked and they said, no only beer or wine are free not mixed drinks. So I got a coffee.

Another waitress said that actually you can get anything that you want. I told her I was thinking of getting a white russian (i wasn't sure if it was a good idea) she brought me a white russian and about 1/4 of the way thru we were told to go to another venue in Manchester.

I rode with a woman and her mother. We got there and the pastor told us that we can't sing there because they are busy with choir practice. I was very angry. Talk about poor organization. D. decided we'd go to another nursing home but he didn't give us an address. The driver swore she'd find it. Mind you it's 28 degrees and she's driving all around but didn't have the sense to follow anybody! So we missed out on singing at the nursing home. D. told us we are to come back to this church later. Since we were lost and I feared the worst I asked if we could go back to the original church.

We went inside and I sat on a stoop in the unheated hall of the church. this is too cold. I felt there was no choice but to go into where they were practicing for Christmas. I'm so mad I have nothing to say. The driver and her mother come in and sit down and the driver pulls out her cell. D. tells her "Oh, no. We aren't going to be singing at that church. Drive back to the restaurant"

The restaurant told us we can have free dinner but I was so angry by the time we got back to the restaurant that I didn't even join them for the rest of the singing-I just stormed out and went home.

Nonetheless, I can clearly hear my own voice on this video that was on television and is on the internet.

here's the link.

www.encoreminute/carrollcounty.tv

click on

"North Carroll Christmas"

You can pick out my voice as being fairly high with a lot of vibrato.

(Next week I'm going to be evaluated for "Dysphonia" at an ent specialist)