This has turned out to be an interesting September to say the least. I put in my first full week of work last week since the start of September. Between vacation and the ham radio stuff the shortened work weeks were wonderful. Unfortunately I spent all of last week wondering if it was the weekend yet.
Angie from L100 dropped a few of us a line letting us know the details of the upcoming memorial service for Johnny Cash (I live in Nashville if you did not already know). Unfortunately her timing could not be worse (or better) in the sending of the info. She sent it on the same day both iconic rock video star Robert Palmer and literary great (and a cool accent) George Plimpton passed away. Thinking on my feet I sent an email back to Angie and those on her list informing them that word on the street that neither of them would be in attendance. As I later found out, that email was the bearer of bad news to Naked Dave. Apparently Robert Palmer does not make the news on Indian MTV. Palmer was like Peter Gabriel. Anytime either of them released a video you made sure you sat down and watched it. Sure, it's a directors vision but their music is inter-related. Likewise, they are starring in it.
I decided to re-live a little youth (some may argue I'm still young) Thursday night and pushed my bedtime back. Sure, I'm a notorious night owl, but as I realized, you have to keep work in check every once in awhile. Likewise, keep yourself in check. Can you stay out until 3am and still make it into work at a reasonable hour? Thursday night the answer proved to be yes. Maja, who was staying with Rick and Ali (who just had a birthday) was heading back to Seattle since her internship had concluded. I grilled up some bratwurst and we headed over to the Melrose Lanes where after a string of mellowing Bob Marley songs I dropped some cash into their jukebox and got our collective grooves on. It was not one of my better games, but I still broke 100. Incidentally, the 700 Club is located on the far right of the lanes. We then headed over to The Villager. I'm sad to admit this but as long as I've been in Nashville this was the first time setting foot into the place. I've past it many times and it's been suggested as a stop in the past. I hear they don't treat the first timers too well (at least those they know about) so I kept my mouth shut and took in the sights. I would have to say they get the vote for the most fsck'd up jukebox in Nashville. There could be laws against some of the songs in that jukebox. Anyway, I rolled in at 3am and still made it into work in the morning (and took a jog that afternoon). Yup, I can still do it.
Well, sometime today Ken and Susan depart to New Zealand via a stop in Wisconsin. We helped them pack up on Sunday. As cheezy as it is to say, it's really an end of an era at work (with Marci departing shortly too). When I started Ken was one of the first people I got to know outside of those that were my bosses or co-workers. We were both on the 6th floor. Friday's Ken would crank up the Black Sabbath while programming and screams of pain and excitement would echo down the halls as hurdles were introduced or crossed. It was relaxing in a way, all people who do programming go thru it at some point or another. Ken just happened to be pretty vocal about it. Lunches with Ken will be missed. He brought out the best (or worst as it could be given some of the things I came up with) in me. It was never a dull moment with him and I gained a lot of knowledge from him. It was nice to be able to go out to lunch with him and the others and be able to talk any number of subjects in a rational and respectful manner. As irrational as the subjects could be. The Dirty Words list linked on the left is just but one of many things I've been able to join into and be a part of since getting to know Ken and the others.
I'm excited for them. It's a big move but it's a once in a lifetime opportunity (in my opinion). We had a big blowout party Friday night and in looking around, Ken keeps good company. I'm proud to know him and proud to be part of that group on Friday, knowing full well there were others that could not be there. What started out with replacing the Macintosh localtalk network (details being left out for brevity) so he could finish his PhD turned into 4+ wonderful years of friendship. If he comes back to Nashville like he says they will I'll be excited. It's only 2 years and the planes fly two ways. We'll just have to see.
It was only a matter of time before everyone split up to do their own thing. It's part of working at a college. I knew this day would come and I'm excited for everyone that's moving on. They've worked hard to get to this point. In some cases sticking around in Nashville is a hinderance to their goals and it's only natural to move on. Getting the job I got at the time I got it was a blessing in so many ways it's unimaginable to think of where else I could have landed. I most certainly would not have had the friendships I've managed to make and do the things I've done. I can only hope that there's another group that comes along. We need someone cranking the Sabbath on 6th and screams of excitement when the program does what it's supposed to do.
Made up Band Name of the Day: Rheo Stat and the Slide Potentiometers
Leave it to The Onion to find a fitting way to pay tribute to a very sad day. I'm a little overdue on this update. Then again I don't have a set schedule so all things are really relative.
What else is there to say about those events. Once again I was doing something ham radio related when news such as this broke. Weird. I got my tribute on the other night. For the first time in a couple of years I was on the air, radio, as in FM. Rick and I picked up a shift at the local college 10,000 watts of maximum rock station. We more or less played the theme of what the show was supposed to be. After our shift it was supposed to be dead air so we decided to keep things running for a little while. I ended up spinning the autobiographical "Man In Black" and later spun Cash's take on Southern Accents. Cash's cover of the Petty song is a tough listen. The old line is that all you need is three chords and the truth. Johnny laid down some truth in that song. It'll be interesting to hear what he accomplished since June's passing. Word on the street is that he recorded at least 30 songs since her passing. Amazing is about the only word to describe what he did in a very short period.
It was good to be back behind the microphone again. It won't be a regular thing, I like not having a regular show. But it was good to know someone was listening and we got a few phone calls. Rick and I managed to dig up this gem. Of course, we spun Jimmy Carter Says Yes which should go down in the annals of music history as the best tribute to an American President, EVER. I've not had this much fun since I was face down in peach pie, eating my way to freedom (from Brak, and really funny when you make the Georgia / peach connection). Anyway, I need to stop on by Tom Selleck's online store to see if he's got it for sale. Daddy needs some more campy music in his collection.
Speaking of Tom Selleck, he and I formulated a plan for Halloween at the going away party for Naked Dave. With any luck, the loop around Vandy's campus will get a little more than they bargained for this Halloween. You listening Tom? We need to get our plans on.
Naked seems to be doing well. He says it's really freaking hot where he's at. Apparently 100 degree days are the norm. Funny, Nashville has not had a 100 degree day all summer and better yet, only a handful of 90 degree days. I'm not complaining. I've loved this mild summer. I'm trying to get the Naked to get some picts of the smoking fish while he's there. Fingers crossed. They need some WVSR lovin over there.
I had a bunch more to write, but I've forgotten most of what I was planning to write (what I get for not updating more often). I think there are pirates loose on the internet, trying to plunder the bits. I need some vitamin C to fight off the scurvy that's on my connection.
Made up Band Name of the Day: 4 Drunk Guys In A Volvo
Who Killed Bambi? I don't think the Sex Pistols ever got the answer to that one either.
I'm fresh off vacation. A little tanner, sans the white knuckles of driving thru Knoxville during an annoying rain. Of course, what do I do when I go on vacation? Hit used CD store. I figure it increases the entropy and my chances of hitting one or two of those esoteric CD's I've been on the prowl for. So I picked up a Moog Cookbook CD, The New Pornographers, the Swindle from the Sex Pistols, some older Old 97's CD's (Wreck Your Life and Hitchhike to Rhome), Sonic Youth, Pizzicato Five, and the original Golden Smog EP (On Golden Smog). I also found a Rhino compilation of "Crime Jazz", the Dead Milkmen's Big Lizard in My Backyard, Billy Bragg, and TV's Greatest Hits CD with some more themes to add to my collection.
Overall it was not a bad day back to the grind. We had a party for back to school so part of the afternoon was spent chilling and catching up with some new people and some others that have been around. Of course, as good as the day went, leave it to the general population of Nashville to change that. In this case, I'm sitting at the intersection of Blackman and Edmonson pike when I hear screeching tires. Thankfully it's not me this time, but from what I gathered when I looked up a guy making a left on green yield did not know someone was coming straight thru. BAM. The guy turning left is spun around. The oncoming guy sits in his car for a couple of moments. The left guy gets out. And with that, oncoming takes off down Blackman lane. Crap. Now it's a hit and run, the guy not at fault now at fault. Unfortunately (and because people don't give a crap round Nashville) no-one got the plates. I took off to see if I could catch up with the oncoming guy but he must have flown down Blackman because he was no where to be found. I came back around to let the driver know that I could not find the guy. I felt sorry for the guy, best I could tell him was have a nice day. After all, it is left turn yield on green. Friday will hopefully go by quick. I've got big plans for the weekend but I'm guessing I'll probably lay around and do not much of anything. It's always the way it works for me on the weekends.
Made up Band Name of the Day: The Universal Remotes