Still I feel hungry and tired as I get into my black tie attire. There will be food at the event, Forrest promises.

The event is to officially open the Mary Ann Heller Opera Center and the James Armstrong School of Music. Both the center and the school have been operating for a while but they wanted a gala thing for the big donors.

The name's the thing, see. They get people to donate by saying 'your name here.' Some people could care less. Others really like it.

I remember being invited to look at the architect's drawings of the proposed building at James Armstong's house. I guess James had already donated the money to get the music school named for him. Anyway, they had a book with 'naming opportunities.' Forrest looked through it and decided that the state-of-the-art recital hall was going for a bargain price. [Indeed, I believe it cost two or three times the naming opportunity price to build.] He decided to donate some Dell stock to the cause. I'm not so keen on these naming things and suggested that he just use 'Forrest Preece' and we could tell his dad it was a tribute to him. Later, Forrest fought against a budget cut that would have omitted a sprung floor from the rehearsal hall. He funded the floor and so I call the floor the 'Forrest Preece floor.'

Well, his name isn't on the floor. Or even in the room with the floor. But people gather in 'Preece' recital hall for all kinds of events. It's really kind of cool. I was surprised to see my name and his on a artistic wall hanging in the lobby. Hard to photograph.

Well, the event. We all stood in the lobby while a ribbon-cutting took place. Then we went to the third floor and crowded in there with champagne. There was some passed food but I only scored an asaparagus wrapped in phyllo with some cheese or something. I felt tired and hungry and the one glass of champagne made my head buzz.

We skipped the tours of the building. We'd already done it. Instead, we got a Sprite out of the machine and I poured the soda into a wine glass and that made me feel better. Then we sat in the rehearsal hall, all set up for a performance. Finally, food was served in a buffet in the plaza and the food was great but it was a little hot outside. I felt quite full after the chicken, beef, grilled vegies and salad. Word of Mouth catering had donated the spread and they had placed a sign on the table saying their donation was in honor of the center's donors who were their clients. They kindly listed us. The flowers were donated by David Curio in honor of James Armstrong. Nice touch. All these names and honors. Yeah, whatever. Ever wonder why they put Anonymous on those donor lists?

After a while they had a great performance by the Austin Lyric Opera chorus and the young artists in residence. It was great. Lots of kind words were said about the late Walter Ducloux for whom the hall is named. A glorious picture of the Maestro as a young man graces the entrance. This naming makes sense as Ducloux was a very accomplished man who helped found Austin Lyric Opera and laid the groundwork for what it is today. His widow and much of his family was there. That was nice.

During the festivities, Joe McClain, the general director, said that Mary Ann Heller wasn't a building but a person. Later, our good friend Jeff joked that "Forrest Preece wasn't a room, but a person." Jeff is a fun high tech guy who has made enough money to give away my net worth a few times over but who also still enjoys life and has fun. It's fun to talk to him as we stand there among usual suspects in their mostly black tie finery (it was BTO, I discovered but, of course, to FFP that's tuxedo time). Our friend Ernest came up and we ask, as we always do, where he'd been. "Gabon," Ernie said. Ernie is a bird watcher. Jeff said he didn't know where it was. "Africa?" I asked, questioning my own geography. "I didn't see another white man for three weeks," Ernie says.

The week has worn me out. I can't wait to get home and get to bed. Ah.

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