It’s busy—but as a former boss of mine used to say, “Never confuse motion with progress.” There’s lots of motion. I have no idea whether any of it will turn into progress.
Job interview last Thursday night, and one coming up Tuesday night; I’m not assuming either place will want me, but it is nice they thought I was worth interviewing. (In both cases, I was one of three people they were talking to.) I still have a couple more jobs to apply for—one in Alaska. Though Congress has passed the unemployment-extension bill, I’m told I may end up being one of the so-called “99-ers”—the people who have been out of work so long there’s presumed to be no point in caring about them any more. (There is probably a song in it—if I can figure out how to say it with dead animals.)
One nice “upper”: while I was taking snapshots of the Arts Center’s West Africa Day Camp, I got introduced to one of the helpers, who said, “You’re THE Joe Wrabek? I read your column!” Nice to know I’m making headway somewhere. The column is fun, and relatively easy, and apparently (and surprisingly) a lot of people do read it. And I get to report a lot of things that wouldn’t make it into the paper any other way.
Like the weddings. Carol (she of the lovely voice) Ackerman and Norm Myers were married tonight—during intermission at the Friday Night Group’s music at City Hall. That may be the first time we’ve been the venue for a wedding (and a few people did know “The Wedding March”—in that group, somebody’s bound to know almost everything). We tried to play mostly wedding-type songs, and I don’t have much in my repertoire that fits that bill: I threatened to play “I Want a Man for Christmas,” but instead gave ‘em “Armadillo on the Interstate” and “Duct Tape.”
Carol and Norm are the third Friday Night Group couple thus far to have fallen in love and gotten married; Bud (guitar) and Elsie (accordion) got hitched a few years ago, and Fred (guitar) and Barb (keyboard and spoons) were married just last Saturday. I guess one could say we’re good at producing duets.
Deathgrass is confirmed for the “Rocktoberfest” in September—SUNDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER, at NOON. We’re on for an hour. I need to work up an hour setlist. Tempting to put a bunch of rockers in the set (especially since the organizers are advertising Deathgrass as “country/Americana”)—but we really can do a little of everything. (And I’ve written a little of everything.)
I don’t know yet whether the Bay City Centennial folks want the band for the Saturday or Sunday of Labor Day weekend, but I think I get to find out Monday if I go to their meeting (I may not find out any other way). And then I’ll find out if the band can do it. That’s how it always works. Still to nail down: a date for a Food Pantry benefit concert.
At least, if I do get offered a job, I have made sure there aren’t many scheduling conflicts that would entail my having to get time off; with the exception of the SOSA concert in Central Point Aug. 27 (a Friday), everything else is on a Saturday or holiday Sunday.
Deathgrass performs tomorrow, at Garibaldi Days; I haven’t bothered to advertise it, since we’re on for only ten minutes. (That’s two songs. We’ll do “Tillamook Railroad Blues” and “Un-Easy Street,” both of which require no practice.) I expect there will be a good crowd anyway, since it’s the 50th anniversary of the festival. If people complain there wasn’t enough music, I’ll direct them to the folks in charge. I tried my best, but it’s not my show.
Joe
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