I had my second glass of iced coffee, this one with ice cream instead of ice, so I’m ready to tackle my second blog of the day.
It was the second Tuesday of the month and that means I went to John Platt’s On Your Radar. It was the second Tuesday of July and that means I went to my Fantasy Baseball League’s annual All-Star game party. That means I had my annual quandary; how can I be in two places at once? What I do most often is go to one or two acts from On Your Radar and then go to the party which I can get to in 20 minutes. This means that I hope that I’m not excited about the people playing On Your Radar, especially the last act, as I can’t stay for that and expect to see all of my friends at the party. Some have to leave early. This year I was excited about the third Quentin Callewaert but that’s life. Unfortunately, a strange use of the term, I was also excited by the second act, Karyn Oliver, and I had to stay to see her. Worst, as Karyn is a Chick with Dip I’m sure there was a post-show get together with people that I love to hang out with. I know that Sharon couldn’t stay but my guess some of the rest of the crowd went out, Carolann, Elisa, Katherine, Coco & Bruce, and Jeff & Carol. Am I missing someone? I don’t think Fred and Linda stayed after the show. But I hang out with those people, even Karyn who lives in NC, more than my baseball buddies. I was nice and alliterative with “baseball buddies,” I could have done something similar with my music friends by reordering, Karyn, Carolann, Katherine, Coco, and Carol. OOO, maybe Quentin Callewaert joined them making it even more fun. Sorry, I get easily excited.
I got there early, 6:10 well before doors open. I always go in then to make sure things at sound check are running smoothly and to schmooze. The idiot that posted the schedule on Facebook had Karyn on first which meant that she would sound check last and this would be my time to talk to her. When I arrived everyone had finished sound checking. This never happens. I thought I’d probably catch the end of the second act, as scheduled The Promise is Hope’s sound check, but instead all I found was Quentin and his father sitting in the back of the room talking. Then the Promise is Hope came by and told me they were the first band up, not Karyn. I’d give the person who got the order wrong on Facebook a piece of my mind, except that person is me. I’m an idiot. I explicitly discussed the order with John and somehow confused things. I can’t give myself a piece of my mind as I have no brain. This is a different sort of idiot story than usual. This actually bother me as it was not being meticulous for the benefit of others. I acted unprofessionally and even though I’m not paid I should do the job like I am.
Even though I just saw Karyn a few months ago I heard some songs, I hadn’t heard before. She said it was because she knew there were people who hear her often in the audience, all the people I mentioned. These were good songs, good angry songs. She says the anger has been going on for two and a half years; you do the math. Karyn has a very powerful and expressive voice, well suited to these kinds of songs. I would prefer a world where she wasn’t angry but given that we don’t I’m happy that it at least inspires art.
After Karyn’s set I was off to the party, a baseball bar on 33rd Street. It’s a quick trip, just two short walks and five stops on the F train. I texted Marc that I’d be there in 15 minutes as I boarded the train. I arrived in 15 minutes. For the first time ever I didn’t walk into Jack Dempsey’s bar first. It’s a sports bar, it’s on the same block, it’s difficult to read the name on it, and I’m an idiot. This time I remembered that I always make that mistake so I didn’t.
If I had waited to see Quentin I would have missed about a third of the players in the league; they left not that long after I arrived. Maybe John will book all acts I don’t need to see next July, and I can arrive at the party when everyone else does, more than two hours before I get there. Everyone else had eaten, I ordered when I got there. It was a huge order of bacon and cheese fries. I called it a “healthy” order, perhaps not the best term. Of course I just read a meta-study in the times that showed the lack of efficacy that low fat diets have in combatting heart disease. No diet does very much. This is in line with what I’ve been reading for decades. It’s not what makes the headlines, because it’s the studies that show positive results that the media reports on. Excuse me while I get off my hobby horse.
Hanging out with these guys is very different than hanging out with the Chick-centered crowd. We had our best attendance in years, everyone in the league but one was there, and the one missing now lives in Florida. His son was there representing. Our league has been going on since 1989 which is quite impressive, until I discovered that we were newbies. As I was making my apologies for leaving OYR and explaining why I discovered that Dan, I hope it was Dan and I’m not confusing myself, said that his league has been going on since 1979. I’m doing my part to sustain the league, two of the other teams are people that I recruited, Chris and Marco. Polo. Sorry, reflex. Blame Stranger Things they referenced it. We are a team short this season. If you’d be interested in joining out league next season let me know. I’d love it if a woman would join, right now we are all men and boys. I love that people are bringing their sons into the league. That’s how you keep it going that long.
I stayed to the end of the party, around 10 PM. The all-star game was still going on. In the early days of the league the end of the game was the trade deadline and we would all stay until the last out. We had deals made with the final batter at the plate.
Now I’m all caught up. Tonight I’m see Dar and Susan Werner at City Winery. I’m curious how many of my friends will be there. I know that Fred, Chris, and Marty, all of whom I saw last night will. Did Gail say she was going? I’m going with Kevin.
Wise Madness 