January is the beginning of Midsumma Festival. The 3 week long event similar to gay pride, but with movies, plays, art showings, and big parties for the all the genres of the gay community. Australia day is on 26th it’s a national holiday with some controversy surrounding it. February 1st capped off the month with the Gay pride parade.
The first Thursday back at band practice they rolled out the schedule for the next 4 weeks. There would be our regular 3.5 hours rehearsal on Thursday and 3 to 4 hour marching band
practices on Saturdays. There are 2 parades the Melbourne Rainbow Band marches in for the year, Australia Day on the 26th and of course the Gay Pride Parade. There would also be other performances at the Gay Carnival Festival to open Midsumma, a 2 set performance in the afternoon on Australia day at the JOY FM (gay radio station in Melbourne) picnic, and a performance after the pride march . That’s a lot in 3 weeks. There are 4 Alto sax players in the band and I’m the understudy and I didn’t think they’d need my help very much. Since it was my first year in Melbourne for Pride I wanted to keep my schedule open to do other events. But the friends I’ve made in the band convinced me I was needed and could fill a valuable spot, even if it wasn’t the playing saxophone. Instead I would get to play the bass drum! As you can see in the picture of marching practice it’s the big round LOUD drum. There’s only one in the this particular concert band and it was going to be me in 2009. Everyone said don’t worry it’ll be easy and I accepted the challenge. I would be expanding my musical talents by getting to play a new instrument, so why not! Then they all told me it was the bass drum that keeps the timing perfect
for the entire rest of the band to play to. This scared me a little because it requires counting a lot more than I’m used to (But I should do more of) playing the sax. However, with the drum I only have to count to 2, evenly and consistently for about 30 minutes... 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2 while marching and trying not to bump into the trumpet player, Prue, in front of me. The bass drum also starts and stop the forward motion of the band. Playing a musical instrument
is A LOT harder than most people make it look ! Now we have to move in unison and play at the same time! I was glad I only had to go 1, 2, 1,2...
The first test of January would be the Carnival Festival on the 18th. It was all the booths of the various organizations in the community and our beloved corporate sponsors. Like the boys from Manhunt! It was a warm day, about 90 degrees
if I remember correctly and we got to play in our blue polyester shirts and black pants in the direct sunlight. I’m on the far left and thanks to a friend I was able to borrow at hat at the last minute and played fairly well. The crowd was about 300 people all hiding in the shade just out of the picture. After we were finished on the main stage the DJs changed the beat and our stage became a dance floor for some line dancing. Thank god we didn’t have to play for that! People in Melbourne love this event and pack picnic lunches with ALL the trimmings, just like at Rose Festival and party the day away. These queens had it all champagne and everything!
Australia day and our first parade was next. I was a little nervous before, my debut on the drum and in the marching band. The good news was we we’re only playing one song with a 16 bar percussion trio at the end to give the rest of the band a break. But not me, Greg or Beck, my
fellow percussionists, no rest for the wicked I guess. Then it was back to the same song, a melody of Australian folks songs ending with Waltzing Matilda. The only one I had ever heard of. When you’re marching the people in the crowd can only hear you for a few minutes anyway. That helped in taking the pressure off a little. The parade route was a prominent one going right down Swanston Street and over the Yarra River bridge by Flinders Station (beautiful old transit station building of earlier blogs). A fairly short distance of only 2 major city blocks maybe 1000’ right in the heart of the Central Business District. It was a lot more fun and easier than I expected once we got going. People we’re lining both sides of the streets 5 or 6 deep. I have no idea how many where in attendance. Later I found out my coworker and nearest cell mate, Mhairi (Var-ee, she’s Scottish) MacGregor was there to snap a few pictures for me.
At the end of the parade we quickly packed everything up and hit the road for Mt Macedon. About a hour north of town and to a private residence as it turned out. We were going to perform at the property of the main benefactor of the band. This was the day the band gets a BIG check and it provides about 50% of our income, so the spot has to be good! I never did get the guys names that owned the property but it was a large beautifully landscaped hillside. So large I never even saw the house. It was just walkways and fountains and gardens, all very well maintain. Eddie, you’d love it! Joy FM was having their annual picnic up there and about 100 people came to enjoy the gorgeous day. As part of their reward for the drive out of town they were entertained by both the Melbourne Rainbow Band and the Melbourne Gay Chorus was our opening act. For some reason I only took 1 picture here and it’s not that good. We’re all standing around waiting for someone to tell us what to do. Happily I was able to play the sax for this 2 part set. Our stage was wonderful circular stone patio area in the shade and in the center of the circle was a classic old water fountain. We played so well most of the crowd stayed until the end of our second set. A great accomplishment because we finished about 5pm and it was Monday evening on a long 3 day weekend. I for one was ready to go home and crash! Two big band weekends over, one more to go.
Our final performance of month was to be the one I anticipated the most, Gay Pride! I’ve only ever really marched in 1 other gay pride parade and that was my first in Hartford CT, oh so many years ago... It was such a small event that there were no spectators ,every gay person there was the parade. I had watched so many over the years in Portland and getting to even see one in San Fransisco with Sven. I’d seen the marching bands, and like everyone, loved to hear them play. This year was going to be a whole new perspective. The march itself was only about a half mile and ended in the park along Port Phillip Bay. IT WAS AWESOME and I mean like 80’s TOTALLY AWESOME!!! We warmed up a little in Albert Park. Then moved into the parade formation line. We played for all the other people marching as we waited to start. Cameras we snapping, video was being shot and even local TV stations were there. Everyone so happy and having a great time. We had 2 songs to play for the march, Police Academy and New York, New York. We also had 4 other songs to play in the park at the end of the parade. 6 songs at 3 varying speeds, plus the drum trio, meant I got a lot of playing time in! As we start on our way there were cheers of joy from all the participants. In my mind, I only could hear 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2,.... From one end to the other the parade route was crammed with screaming, singing happy gay people. At times our formation of 4 wide got so narrow Greg and I bumped drum sticks and Pramont, our drum major leading us, was using his baton to shoo people back out of the way. We stopped and started many time as the 40+ groups in front of us would ebb and flow. As we finished the route and made our way into the park we continued to play and marched right up to the chief of police for Victoria, Ms. Christina Nixon and played Police Academy. That was over 30 minutes of banging as loud as I could and doing my best to keep 1, 2, as even as possible. My arms were a little tired and I was thirsty. Finally it was time for the percussionist to get a break! We then did our complete set of songs there in the park for anyone that would listen, in a totally random standing formation. It was the most fun of the 3 weeks, because now all our performances were over. The band really got into it and had a lot of fun. We’re dancing along with the crowd as they belted out the words to songs like Celebration and Proud Mary (Tina’s version). A GREAT day ended like so many in Tassie with a glass of Vodka but this time it was at a bar with my band mates. We were all goofy and tired it was best part of the day. Luckily on this day another friend was at the parade and got this video of us marching. See if you can spot me banging away on the drum. But beware of the cyclist that flows us!
There was other Midsumma things going in January besides band practice. Michael Riches (flatmate) and I attended a Victoria Gay Civil Rights charity showing of the new Sean Penn film, Milk. Which was very good. I had flash backs of my trips to San Fransisco and they made me a little home sick. I had heard about Harvey Milk over the years and of the evil Anita Bryant. But I never knew all of the details of the story. I highly recommend the movie for those that haven’t seen it yet. With another friend, Michael Young (not my flatmate) I attended a 2 person play called “As You Do” It’s a comedy about the things in the daily life of long married older gay men. I related to a lot in the gardening, cooking and party scene skits. The guys did a great job of engaging the audience by dragging 3 people up on stage at various points. The first poor sucker was the guy sitting next to me and I can tell you I was scared as hell thinking it was going to be me. The event took place during our heat wave, which I’ll get to later, and the venue didn’t have air conditioning. Sweat was literally dripping off of you that evening.
On Another outing Micheal Young and I visited a new tourist attraction called the Melbourne Eye. It’s a 120m high (395’) Ferris wheel. This massive structure can be seen from many points around the city and is located in the newly revamped neighborhood of Docklands. A part of town with high rise condos, lots of shops and restaurant all along the private docks whose slips are full of massive yachts. The giant glass tic tac like carriage of the “Eye” holds 20 people, but we got lucky and only 6 where there for our 30 minute sunset trip. The module is fixed to the wheel by 2 large rings encircling it. This engineering feat allows the carriageway to stay on
the outside of the wheel giving you continuous un obsctructed views of the entire city and waterfront while keeping you level and barely able to tell you are moving. I was in as much awe of the structure itself as the views.
Melbourne also has had some record breaking weather in the last week of January. We broke a record that has stood since 1875! Melbourne, as I have learn, lies in a path between two major wind currents. When these currents are spinning a particular manner winds come rushing off the massive central desert that covers most of Australia and bring with it dust and sweltering heat! We experienced 3 days in a row with high temperatures above 44 Degrees C, which translates into 111 degrees Fahrenheit. Hotter than anything I have ever experienced. I’m so glad these 3 days were during the week so I could hide in my office. Michael and I do have air conditioning in our flat but it’s a small wall unit which doubles as our heat in the winter. It doesn’t really make the house as cold as this northern boy would like but it did take the edge off and the house was about 85 F most of the time. Now in heat like this nothing really moves very fast and that includes most of the Melbourne public transit trains. The high temps kill the air conditioning units and in many cases actually buckled the steel rail lines. So the THOUSANDS of people using them to get to and from work are then crammed into slower city trams. The trains can carry 750 people each and run every 7 minutes on 13 routes. The trams can carry about 75 TOTALLY PACKED and I mean like smelling everybody packed. Some seated nice lady held my bag for me on her lap because there was just no room on one particular day. These trams do have open windows but with the outside temps and that many people so close, you all are just one large grumpy, hot mass of perspiring human flesh. The heat itself is oppressive, but the wind at 30 or 40kph zaps you completely. What sweat does form on your skin evaporates before it can give any cooling effect. The tear drops in your eyes dry out in seconds as you leave the comfort and shelter of the buildings. The heat is so high you can feel it radiating up off the sidewalk, you can feel your skins cooking even in the shade. The water pipes on most buildings are on the outside of the structure (it never freezes here) and even the cold water comes out warm to bordering on hot. At one point I saw pigeons fighting over a tiny amount of water in a dog dish outside a cafe. The state has been on a total fire ban for weeks and while smoking is allowed on the outdoor patios and sidewalks of the cafes during this extreme period it is even banned there. What the city of Melbourne experienced is nothing compared to the more rural areas of inland Victoria. Some parts of the state had highs near 50 C (122F). Adelaide, in the state of South Australia, to the north west of Melbourne also lies in the path of the desert winds and had a stretch of 12 days above 40C (104F). All of this happens while the city is on water restrictions and you are asked to limit your water consumption to 155 liters per person (41 gallons) a day. Which makes you feel guilty for taking that 3rd cool shower or the 2 gallons of water you need to drink to stay hydrated. Moving from the perpetually wet and grayish green of Oregon to this is a culture shock to say the least.
Just this last Saturday we had another 44 degree day here in Melbourne and in the rural areas the temps exceeded 47 C (116F). Those winds I mentioned were above 80kph (50mph). You have probably heard about the bush fires raging in Victoria. Several entire towns have been wiped of the map! Most of these places are within a hours drive off the city and many of my coworkers are effected by this tragedy. The town of Marysville, that I visited in early December on my way to Lake Mountain (the cross country ski resort) is totally gone! Not a building has been left standing. I had lunch at the local pub that was over 100 years old. It was a beautiful country town nestled in the foothills of the Yarra mountians. I was so pleased to know I'd be stopping here on my ski trips as it was the last town before the resort. Several other towns have gone up in flames too. Victoria's law state a homeowner can stay and fight the flames or flee and many people stayed to save their homes. Unfortunately the winds were so strong people had very little time to react. I've heard stories that the fire was out running people in cars. Some people died in their cars, others died in their hot tubs, boiling in the water and still others in their homes. It's hard to understand the enormity of such a thing and even harder to put it into words.
Other more typical things happened in my life in January. Michael Riches got his fish tank set up in our lounge room. I finally got to hang my 2009 Oregon Calenders at home and work. I got some personalized touches added to my bedroom, namely some nice sheer drapes and photos hung of my trip last June to Key West. I also found the factory outlet stores where I managed to buy 3 pairs of shoes, a belt, 3 t-shirts, 2 dress shirts, pants, and a bunch of other things I needed for about $300. The best deal of the day was a awesome pair of Steve Madden cream colored leather shoes I just love for only $35 (about $25 US) regularly $150 ($105 US). The gay guy in me loves to shop but it just wasn’t the same without my best shopping girl friend, Phyllis, to help me match up the colors and laugh at some of the pieces of hideous clothing some else might buy.
Like I mentioned in the beginning of this entry January has turned into February and I have a couple free weekends before my next adventures are planned. On the 22nd I’m going on a surfing weekend with a bunch of coworkers. I’m not really sure where we are going but houses are rented for 2 nights and a big bbq dinner is included for $60. Surfing lessons will be extra but there’s no charge for swimming with the sharks! (ha ha got you Mom)Then I have to get ready to meet Shawn in Jim, friends from Portland, up in Sydney for the big Mardi Gras parade on Friday March 6th. After that we all fly back down to Melbourne and I have the week off to play tour guide in my new home town.
I want to extend a happy belated Birthday to my grandmother, Eleanor Russell. January 30th was her big day I did call her and send a card in time but forgot to mention her here in my last entry. So HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!
I also want to say happy 40th to Troy Bryan on Feb 4th, Welcome to the fold honey! Everyone kept telling me that 40 is the new 20! It’s true if can find a 20 year old that interested in a 40 year old!
More Happy birthday wishes go out to Kam Sisco who had his day on Friday the 6th.
One more birthday wish goes to the very special Tony Clark on Feb 13th. Who has found his was back home to Oregon after his own adventures in Florida.
my apoligies if I missed you're special day... so many friends so little time....
I miss you all!
21st,the URS social committee organized a Surf Trip down in Lorne. Its south of Geelong and at the start of the Great Ocean Road, where I travelled last November. About 35 of my co-workers went, with friends the group totalled over 50. We had rented 7 or 8 house and I got put in the 20 something house, with no kids. Fun was had by all and of course we drank a lot! After arriving Friday evening the group met at the local pub for dinner and to distribute the house keys. I was staying with the house organizer, Peter Cohen, which made my evening much easier. Back at the house the night was spent drinking and teaching some Australians how to play Bullshit. A drinking card game where you try to get rid of all of your cards and lie to do it. At some point we stumbled to our sleeping quarters and in the morning I made my house mates french toast and home fries for breakfast. After getting ourselves ready for the day those of us taking the 2 hour surf lessons headed down to the beach. The day was slightly overcast and not too warm. This was the first time I had done more than stick my foot in the ocean in a long time and I was a little scared it was going to be frigid. After spending 17 years in Oregon I hoped the Bass Strait would be a little warmer than the northern Pacific. People had warned me about the Antarctic currents keeping a chill on the waters even in summer. As you can 
see from the photos we were given full wet suits and they helped a quite a bit. After our instructions on the beach we grabbed our boards and set out for the waves. At first the water was cool on my feet. But as I stepped in I quickly realized nothing was going to go numb. Something I’m very grateful for! As it turned out surfing is easier than I thought it would be but still was a challenge. I found the hardest part was just getting balanced on the board while waiting for the next big wave to come in. After a few tries my instructor changed my board from 8’6” to 9’6” long and that helped buoy my body a lot more. I made many attempts at actually standing up. Some ended in a face plant, if I was leaning to far forward. Some 
landed on my butt if I was too far back. A few times was just avoiding other beginners in the water. Every time I got washed under I came up laughing and wanted to get back out there as quick as possible. A couple times I had it just right and was able to get up on both feet and release my hands from the sides of the board. I wasn’t really standing, it was more like a low squat but I’m counting it all the same! After a couple hours you got a lot more tired than you’d think and we headed back to dry land. See if you can spot me in the group photo? I’m the one with the really bright tan! There were a lot more people there but some had wandered off before the picture got taken. Later the different groups of friends all ended up at a local cafe for lunch where we refueled ourselves. Then we relaxed at home before the big work bbq in the evening. The group moved to one of the houses for a old fashion PAR-TAY. Complete with laughing loud 
people, music and drinking games. When I finally tumbled out of there on my way home there were hundreds of beer bottle scattered all over the place. I was very thankful the party had not taken place at our home. Sunday was spent drinking a LOT of water and slowly making our way back to town. We stopped at some little town for lunch and at a famous surfing spot Bell’s Beach (seen in the last photo). I did what I think every one else did that evening and crashed hard into bed early. Another weekend where Monday came all too fast! Surfing is something I had never done and it’s my hope that it wasn’t the one and only time I get to go.
Not much else has really taken place. The next blog should be a little more interesting because on Friday the 6th I fly up to Sydney to meet up with my friends Shawn and Jim from Portland for the big Mardi gras festival. I’m not sure how much of it I’ll be able to report here. I’m trying to keep this blog rated PG but I’m sure I’ll be able to find something for everyone.
