Daily writing prompt

What was the last live performance you saw?

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In my younger days I went to clubs to hear live music all the time. Almost once or twice a week. It was basically my social life. As I got older the frequency was vastly reduced. After the pandemic hit the frequency dropped to a hair above zero.

I went to the Letters to Cleo annual Thanksgiving homecoming show back in November and it was pretty much perfect. That was the last live performance… until four days ago. Scroll back a little, you’ll see it. My daughter, Bellana, performed with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra four days ago and you bet your sweet music loving ass I was in the crowd having my mind blown by the Mozart and being so overcome with pride for her that I was close to spontaneously combusting. Literally. Boom. It was amazing.

My step daughter… that little kid I first met when she was six years old and in first grade… one of the two people who have allowed me to be a part of their life as they grew from little person to adult… the woman who used to be the girl who I’ve been blessed to be able to hear sing for most of her life… sang in the choir with a freaking symphony orchestra performing a Mozart masterpiece.

That was my most recent live performance, all of four days ago, and damn it if that is going to be tough to top.

Daily writing prompt

What do you do to be involved in the community?

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I sometimes respond to these questions of the day by saying I am not playing along. Usually the reason is because I have an answer but don’t want to share it with the public universe. Today I am not playing along for a different reason… the reason is because I just don’t have an answer.

I thought about it and I guess I am just not involved with my community. We were to a small extent when the kids were little. We went to school functions, we participated in youth sports, we showed our faces outside of our house. Those sorts of things. Now that the kids are grown ups? I vote. That’s a way to be involved in the community, I guess. When that schmuck set off an M80 in the middle of our street that one night I went outside to investigate and talk to the cops along with the rest of the neighbors. That’s being involved I guess.

Other than little things like those? No, nothing I can think of. I put out the garbage barrels and take them in after the pick up. I pay my taxes. I was available for jury duty yesterday but the state sent me that magical letter saying I didn’t have to show up. That’s about it.

I mean, I am here if anyone needs anything. Like, if anyone wants a bluesy lead guitarist for some local event I am your guy. Beyond that? I’m probably just going to stay at home like a normal middle aged red head. That’s just the way it is, right?

Daily writing prompt

What’s a job you would like to do for just one day?

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When I was in college, also in the dark days between college stints, I did a lot of temp work. Having jobs for one day only is something I have some experience with. It is not something I would ever chose to do again. In the interest of day dreams and this discussion though…

I could handle being a professional musician for a day. I mean, sure, I’ve been paid to play music a whole bunch of times in the past, but I’ve always been an amateur at best. Not even that, more like a hobbiest who got lucky a few times. I never played a gig that payed enough to consider a living wage. My pay outs have been more like beer money. It sure would be nice to make music for a living, even if it’s just for a day.

What else… It would be fun to be an astronomer for a day. Maybe pitch in on the search for the theoretical planet nine. It could be out there, somewhere. I could go for being a photographer for a living for a day. I have a day off this week and I was hoping to play photographer but… you guessed it… rain. I wouldn’t mind being a professional computer programmer for a day. Wait… what?

Okay. It’s Monday and I have a ton of stuff to get done before work. You know… work as a computer programmer. Har har har. Happy Monday everyone. May your job, school, responsibilities, whatever take it easy on you so that you can have a good day. Mondays suck, but let’s rise above it and get through it all.

I hate the term “brand.” I passionately hate the term “brand.”

It feels like a citizens united bullshit attempt to humanize corporations. It’s evil and vile and it makes me sick.

Apple and Gibson guitars.