The Score: Personal Life - 2025

Dec 30

Personal Life

This section is mostly for archival purposes. If you want to see what’s been going on (and are wondering what’s taking so long for music to come out), please read on.

I’ll be going month by month, each with a quote from my favorite book for that month.

January

“‘What is the use of art?’ Perhaps even that simple question misses the point. It’s like asking the use of having hands, or walking upright, or growing hair. Art is part of us. That’s the use; that’s the reason. It exists because on some fundamental level we need it.”
Wit/Hoid, Wind and Truth from Book 5 of The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson

The last thing I ever expected to happen to me was starting the new year in a completely different country. I woke up in Mexico after a wild New Year’s party where I (pathetically) could not hang. You know how embarrassing it is when la novia’s abuela is still dancing and partying at 1 a.m., and you need a power nap at 11:30 p.m. before midnight?

February

“It’s much easier to tell yourself you’re a good person than it is to actually be one.”
Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang

I started a new job at a company called Varsity Brands. Totally understandable if you don’t know them. But if you’ve ever worn spirit wear for your middle or high school (band, football, etc.), or a shirt that says “{{High School Name}} MOM,” then you more than likely bought from us.

I then ran a 5K in Austin. Damn, that was cold.
But what was colder was the House of Ice Cream in the Domain. At least Valeria had fun.

I went to see Carlos Rivera in concert. Did I understand any of the songs? Not really. Did I almost miss the only song I knew (“Recuérdame” from Pixar’s Coco)? Obviously.

March

“We should forgive our enemies, but not before they are hanged.”
Heinrich Heine, quoted in Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie

I finished my second Trifecta Spartan Race, running a 21K on Saturday and then completing a 10K and 5K on Sunday. On Sunday, I ran the 10K with my friends, my girlfriend, her family, and my dad.

My 2nd trifecta medal (1st of the year) with the completed piece together.
Houston, TX
3/9/2025

Valeria at the top of the 25ft vertical cargo net in Austin, TX.
5/17/2025

April

“Goddamnit Donut!”
Carl from Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

Scott and I welcomed Dani, my best friend’s girlfriend, into the 30s club for her 30th birthday.

Scott and I also turned 31 and celebrated by going to the Attack on Titan Orchestra Concert. The seats were rumbling the entire time! Before all that, Valeria did a surprise birthday event where we all met up with my friends and family at Chicken & Pickle to eat amazing food, dominate in cornhole, and end the night with a water & light show.

May

“Nobody is starting a harem.” – Carl
“No, I suppose not. You couldn’t even keep one woman interested.”
Donut, The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook by Matt Dinniman

My dad, my girlfriend, and I made the poor decision to do another Spartan Race in Austin, TX. After a rainy night, we were greeted with 95% humidity and 95-degree heat. We managed to finish the 10K, but it was easily the worst-timed race for us.
Sometimes you aren’t going to win or PR. Sometimes it’s just best to cross the finish line.
However, when we crossed the finish line, we found out they had no bananas, no shirts, and no medals. At least we had water. The race took such a toll on us that we opted out of the Sunday 5K.

Go get a dash cam. Seriously.
I got pulled over on the way to see the live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch. I was told I was going 60 mph in a 40 mph active construction zone. I was actually in a 55 mph zone.
I’m still fighting the ticket as of 12/22 because the alternative is driver’s ed in Galveston, TX, once a week for three months (4.5–5 hours away), or accepting full responsibility and all the consequences that come with it.

I went to a baby shower. Wow—the older you get, the stronger the baby fever gets.

I went to Salt Lake City, UT, for the International Trumpet Guild with my dad. Unfortunately, none of my music was performed, but I drove traffic to my site and made a few sales by trying a new marketing technique: mildly insulting trumpet jokes with a QR code on a T-shirt. Pictures made it onto the convention app, so I’ll take that as a win.

June

“I was in a house with many rooms. The sea sweeps through the house. Sometimes it swept over me, but always I was saved.”
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

I celebrated my girlfriend’s birthday by treating her to Torchy’s Tacos and then surprising her with tickets to The Lion King musical. Later that week, we enjoyed a full weekend of birthday fun: Andretti Karting (mostly arcade games), boba, and a lantern lighting festival.

For my mom’s birthday, we had a paint night!

Mexico City:

I traveled to Mexico City with my family, my girlfriend, and her family. We all had an amazing time (aside from one small incident). After visiting countless historic churches, both families joked about my relaxed religious views when I walked away with a sunburn.
We then went to the ancient city of Teotihuacan. For such an open space, it was incredibly boomy and echoey. We climbed halfway up one of the pyramids—and when I say climb, I mean climb. Those stone steps were no joke.
We capped off the month with my friend Morgan’s wedding. She made one thing very clear: ten-minute ceremony or we all burn. We still melted in the heat, but at least we celebrated her exactly how she wanted.

July

“Oh honey, you used to be a sex doll. I’m quite certain you can handle all manner of indignity.”
Princess Donut
“Don’t slut shame me! I’m going to kill your mother!”
Samantha, The Butcher’s Masquerade by Matt Dinniman

I moved. Where? Ha—like I’m going to dox myself. After two years of living with my brother and saving on rent, it was time for my own space. And wow, I love how big this apartment is.

We celebrated my best friend Alvaro’s 30th birthday with the Alvaro Olympics: a full day of chaos designed to keep the most energetic person in our friend group entertained.

We “ran” three miles (yes, I slowed everyone down), did a matcha date and rock climbing (which I missed after accidentally falling asleep after the run), brunch, card games, and an adventure park where I became convinced—after about ten falls—that my harness was going to fail on the eleventh.

We then went out to first and only Texas Rangers game. And it happened to be a themed night so we all got Jujutsu Kaisen themed jerseys for free! The cherry on top of that whole night as that the Rangers soundly (…they would then lose a lot more games after we left).

August

“I mean, really. I can’t be held accountable for everything I’ve ever said to a stripper.”
Princess Donut, The Eye of the Bedlam Bride by Matt Dinniman

My friends Alvaro and Ashleigh both went to Stephen F. Austin State University for undergrad—the same school our favorite band director, Lucy Pascasio (Ms. P!), attended. So whenever we can, we make it a tradition to meet up at least once a year to catch up on life.

This time, we wrapped it around a birthday celebration. Alcohol may have been involved.

September

“By the way, this is an example of a bass-heavy song, Carl! Feel how the ground shakes? It’s designed to upset old people and those who don’t know how to have fun.”
Princess Donut, This Inevitable Ruin by Matt Dinniman

Movie night with the boys and Valeria to see Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle. Incredible animation, incredible movie. No regrets.

Valeria and I finally made it to the Plano Hot Air Balloon Festival after missing it last year.

We also went to the Texas Longhorns vs. Sam Houston State University football game with the whole friend group. It was fun… until halftime. Then it was touchdown after touchdown, but we stayed for the atmosphere.

We wrapped up the month with a combined bachelorette and bachelor party in Galveston.

October

“And if falling in love was discovery, was letting yourself be discovered the equivalent of being loved?”
Alice Law, Katabasis by R. F. Kuang

Valeria and I attended our first-ever Nigerian wedding. Loud music, money thrown at the couple—an unforgettable experience.

We watched Texas dominate OU at the Red River Rivalry.

We traveled to Valeria’s best friend Elena’s wedding where Valeria’s family saw me drink… aggressively. Somehow, no hangover.
On the drive back to the airport, I asked Valeria’s parents—in Spanish—for their blessing to marry their daughter.

Later that month, I traveled to Indiana for the world premiere of my work, ending a two-year performance dry spell.

November

“A fair system only works if there’s an unbiased means of assessing merit…”
Diago/Vis, The Will of the Many by James Islington

Día de los Muertos in Fort Worth, multiple Friendsgivings, joining a temporary community band, Tuesday movie nights, and emotionally coping with Texas getting demolished by Georgia.

Movies watched:

The Running Man – 4/5
Wicked: For Good – 4/5
Zootopia 2 – 5/5

December

“There are demons within us all that we must face. They only ever surface when we are at our lowest because they are strong enough to challenge us at our highest.”
Of Darkness and Light by Ryan Cahill

I joined Valeria in the DFW parade where we helped be the sign-holders for traditional Mexican folklore dancing group. Yes, I lost all feeling in my hands in feet but it was worth it.

I’M ENGAGED.

I proposed to my now-fiancée at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens after a full day of memories: Cidercade, Braum’s, The Emperor’s New Groove, and family secretly coordinating to make it happen.

I got down on one knee and asked, “¿Te casarías conmigo?”

She said yes!

We celebrated afterward at Pappasito’s. Thank you, Dad, for covering dinner for everyone.