Amusing Myself

      There’s a lot of 2’s in the date today. 2 years ago, there were even more. In 198 years, there will be even more. Today Facebook reminded me of a post I made 2 years ago. It fell on a Tuesday, so 2/22/2022 really was a 2’s day. I got a kick out of that. Being easily amused is truly a blessing, and I am grateful for it. So many people seem to need to fill their lives with activity, never really seeming to enjoy it all that much. Trying to escape the novelty of boredom. Although, to me, they just don’t like themselves very much. Slowing down causes the voices in their head to be heard, which terrifies them. We need to spend time with our thoughts. We need to know what kinds of things we’re saying to ourselves. We need to know what it is that our minds want us to know. People who are easily amused don’t need full calendars. I’m a little distracted right now because there is a helicopter flying around making some kind of announcement. I really want to know what they’re saying. It probably doesn’t affect me, but still, I want to know. So, I don’t know if I should wander outside really quick, or if it’ll eventually be beamed directly towards me so I can hear it. I may have missed my window. I was just about to go get a listen, and it started flying away. I hope it’s not important. Well, I’m sure it’s important, they don’t just fly around announcing things for no reason. Thank God! Could you imagine if people were allowed to fly around in helicopters announcing a sale at Dairy Queen?! Obviously, you could insert any brand you want in place of Dairy Queen. I don’t even know why I picked that, I never even go there. Life would be unpleasant if they could just fly around yelling at us from the sky. Could you imagine if every billboard had a loudspeaker!? I’m starting to scare myself, I’ll move on.

     The chopper came back. I went outside to listen. They’re looking for a 35-year-old white man in a white T-shirt. If I see him, I should call 911. First of all, I looked around, I did not see him. Secondly, I locked my door, just in case. Thirdly, a white guy wearing a white T-shirt!? How inconspicuous. I live in the East County, that description pretty much fits a third of the people out here. I assume there will be a lot of unnecessary 911 calls today. I wonder if there will be a lot of white guys wearing white T-shirts unnecessarily stopped and questioned? I wonder if any of them will get busted for unrelated charges? There I go again, amusing myself. And hopefully you as well. I do feel it’s important to listen to those things. What if I was able to help? I know it’s usually a suspect they’re looking for, but a lot of times it’s someone who needs help that they’re looking for. I know if my daughter was missing, or one of my parents wandered off, I would hope people would keep an eye out. I would hope people would listen and try to help. So, that’s how I internalize it. If I needed help, I would want people to listen, so therefore, I will listen. And now, I probably won’t answer the door if I see a 30-something white guy in a white T-shirt on my porch. Wow, that was all so sudden, and now it’s over, and I’m like: “Where was I going to go?” The Calvins had a show last Saturday. It was pretty good. We played well, and there’s video to prove it. But for some reason they put us in red light. Just red light. It made it hard to see what I was doing on stage. I know I shouldn’t have to look, but I do, and it’s not easy in red light. The video looks like we’re performing under a heat lamp. I’m not sure if it was an error, or, um, “creativity.”

     The other bands had lights on, so I guess it was someone’s “creativity.” We’ll have to bring that up if it happens again. More light! There weren’t really that many people there. I thought there was going to be, but no. Especially because it was an early show. People are always complaining about how late we go on. This show, we went on at 5! On a Saturday! People could have made it. Some people did, and if you’re reading this, obviously I’m not talking about you. The people who were there seemed to enjoy it. I had like 3 friend requests the next day from people who had been at the show. That’s cool! The show even had a free nacho bar! Come on! Although, I do have to say, I did not see a lot of people eating the nachos. Maybe just the smokers were eating them. I say that because the nacho bar was in the parking lot. The venue is pretty small, and it would never have fit inside. Twice a year they do a Chili Dog Social, and that usually gets a lot of people. This was their first Nacho Social, and it didn’t seem to go as well. It’s kind of unusual anyway, because it really is a dive, punk rock bar. Not exactly the kind of place that you think about eating at. I wanted to get some, but I couldn’t eat before I played, and after I wanted to chill. And then I was about ready to go. I was glad we got invited, but it didn’t really live up to expectations. I know, I know, expectations are the seed for disappointment, but I don’t really feel disappointed. We rocked. We got noticed. And hopefully, the buzz continues. Speaking of the buzz continuing: My wife and I have not toned down our party schedule as of yet. Last week was supposed to be the “fresh start,” but I told you how that went. Then this week was supposedly it. But no. And, next week isn’t looking any better. Maybe in March!