Yesterday I had my infusion. The car showed up early, but I was ready. It fit in my plan as after I was dropped off I went across the street from the infusion center to get bagels. I can’t get it after because they close at 3:30. I still checked in way early. I don’t go to the center near my house because this one is usually much faster. When I show up early I get taken in early. Not yesterday. They were overbooked. When I arrived, I couldn’t even find a seat in the waiting room. They had to make an announcement that it was patients only. When the companions left I got a seat. There is a sign saying “patients only” when you come in. There are exceptions of course for children and adults that can’t take care of themselves. Unfortunately, many people think that rules are for other people. The rule exists because with COVID-19 people have to space themselves out and there aren’t as many seats as usual. Then there was the one person who when she was asked to wait outside went on a tirade about they would have to take responsibility for her mother who has Alzheimer’s. If she had just said, “Excuse me my mother has Alzheimer’s and can’t be left alone.” They would have said, “Of course. But she had to make a scene first. I took care of my mother and was in similar situations, people always understood.
I ended up waiting a long time. When someone came out to talk to me he said that they just started preparing the infusion and it would take 40 minutes to be ready. That happened to me every time in the other center. Everyone was great about it, he even apologized. He starts off an advantage as he looks and talks like George Bodarky, the WFUV news director. When people remind me of someone I start off liking them. I wondered if I had ever told him this before, I see him most of the time when I get infusions. I hadn’t. He asked if George were Asian, he’s not, but the nurse was. People often look like people of a different ethnicity or different sex. This guy could totally be George’s half-brother.
I used my time on the chair listening to new music. I’m preparing two specials shows for Folk Music Notebook, a holiday special, and a best of 2020. This puts pressure on me but is so much fun. I was listening to Erin Hill‘s Christmas Harp. I saw Erin years ago on a bill with Bobtown. I loved her but have not seen her since. I recently rediscovered her and it’s moving to obsession, but that will have to wait until I finish the two shows. Yesterday I discovered she did a Bowie Tribute show. She makes Rebel Rebel rock on harp. Does everyone know that’s one of the ways into my heart? I love music that is not off the rack.
When musicians send me music it’s often in forms I can’t directly use, I need mp3s. I learned how to convert wav to mp3 on iTunes. It became routine. So of course, iTunes completely changed how to do it. I used to be able to just drag and drop the songs onto iTunes and it would automatically make an mp3 copy of it. There is no longer drag and drop and you have to important and convert in two separate steps. As the wav files don’t have metadata they show up as “unknown album.” Something I don’t get is that sometimes when I convert from wav the metadata appears on the mp3, none of the new ones do. Is that part of the same changes to iTunes? When that happens, I have to manually enter the metadata. For some reason I find that soothing. Before my cataract surgery it was difficult as I had to keep taking my glass off and putting them back on.
I’m listening to some great music that I missed through the year. Part of me hopes that I’ll not like an album that much so I don’t have to consider it for best of 2020. No such luck to what I’m listening to now, John Elliott. The more great albums I heard the harder my decisions are. I was relieved when a new album by a musician that I love didn’t grab me. Perhaps after multiple listens it will but that will be too late. The process isn’t fair. I can often tell if I love an album from part of one song. Sure, sometimes the album doesn’t pan out and sometimes it’s the second or third song that grabs me. But often it’s right away.
I need a break from concentrating on anything. Later I have On Your Radar. The guests are The Early Risers, sound like my antithesis but I love them, Mike Glick, and Josie Bello. Be there are be square. You can listen on our Facebook Page or YouTube channel. I’m going to be daring and not shave. I’m backstage so the artists see me. Putnam Smith and Ashley Storrow, the Early Risers, have seen me at NERFA, Putnam at Falcon Ridge. I’ll look better than that. Sorry Mike and Josie.
Wise Madness 