Tom Ray

Growing up there was a commercial, take the nestea plunge. Was just a person standing at the edge of a pool, takes a drink and falls backwards into the water.

We had a pool and friends and I pretty much stood on the edge yelling “Nestea plunge!” and falling in pretty much all summer.

Thought about that today. First time in a while.

Not because of summer or swimming. I’ve been thinking about doing something I wanted to try for a while. A new path.

Always seem to talk myself out of it or procrastinate. Then I go back to thinking about it. Study more about how to do it but never pull the trigger.

Today I set myself up for situation where its on me to follow through. Whether I like it or not. Put myself out there. Made a commitment and said I could do it.

Didn’t do it for money. I did it so I could stop thinking to myself– I should do that someday.

Guess what? Its someday. And I convinced someone to take a chance on what I think I can do.

Took the plunge. Nestea plunge. That’s what made me think of it.

I took a typing class when I was in high school. No. Let me rephrase that…

I enrolled in a typing class when I was in high school. I wanted the credits and I heard it was an easy course. And it was. Because I never went.

I never even knew where the classroom was.

It was before lunch so I always left early with friends. Thinking to myself, I’m never going to need to know how to type? Not knowing how engrained computers & technology would be later.

It did turn out to be an easy course. End of semester I got a C. For not even going? Always wondered how that was possible?

Now I know taking a simple interest in this class would have made my life easier later on.

Dumb kid thinking he knew everything. Now adult, looking back at himself with fathers eyes pissed off that he gets it now.

I try not to say no to anything I could learn just from this one memory. Always looking at it thinking– I may be able to use or appropriate this knowledge down the line.

Live performances of bands are like going to the zoo for me. I mean in a positive way.

When I go to see bands I like to see how they do it. The sound, the style, the way they interact, things like that. In their natural habitat. You see? Like going to the zoo.

I’m not a show dancer, never really have been. Some people give me a hard time about that. And I don’t blame them. The bands even need people to do that. It’s just not why I’m there.

I’d like to explain why. For me it’s that I have a chance to see how a band does what they do up close and learn from it.

I got 2 opportunities to do that this weekend.

image - CC-BY-NC-ND Some rights reserved by sgt fun

One was an outside show in downtown Madison where the New Pornographers played. Overall the performance was a good one. But the vocals were mixed more than the guitar, which seemed non-existent. That’s always too bad when the sound mix is a problem, there’s not really much you can do about that. But they were a solid live band.

image - CC-BY Some rights reserved by TimothyJ

The second was next night at the High Noon saloon, where The English Beat played. I was lucky on this one, my keyboardist Eric was working front of house monitors. I got a great view for that one. Nice to see a band that you’ve known and heard for years play the iconic songs. Not a cover band, which is the way you would normally get to hear it live.

For that show Eric pointed out an interesting thing to me. Singer Dave Wakeling, was playing his guitar right handed but the strings were strung upside-down.

Meaning– instead of the low note string being at the top of the six and higher ones going down the line. The high string was first and the low was the last one. At the bottom.

I had never seen that before?! Is it so the highs get most of the accent when played? Or is he left handed playing right handed? But that would be even harder to do I think.

Trying to see what bands do and how they do it live seems to bring up interesting questions in my head.

Got wrapped up in a conversation about action figure collections with another that has one.

This lead to looking on web for them.

Started with He-Man, then M.A.S.K., then Silverhawks, then Battle of the Planets.

While looking at rows of pictures from these searches, an old Whitman published 4 color comic was in the mix. I instantly had to open and look at that.

I don’t know what it is but I am just obsessed with those publications. It’s just something about them. Flat colors, the weight and style of the inking and the overall print paper type. Just something about it.

I have to stop myself from looking at those because all I want to do is buy any of them that I find instantly.

I have a whole box of them that I’ve bought over the years that I’ve not even read. And I was nearly on the verge of buying another, just from looking at the cover. What is it about them?

If I could figure out what it is that causes that reaction in the brain I would never have to work again.

I know it happens to everyone. It must.

Have a great idea, but it’s late. You’re tired.

But this idea will change the world. Change my life!

But it’s late. I’m tired. Need to go to sleep.

I’m sure I’ll remember tomorrow. How could an earth shattering revelation like this not be there when I wake up tomorrow?

Should write it down. Record it on my phone.

No. Too tired. It’ll be there tomorrow when I wake up. I’m sure of it.

Nope.

Or, scenario number 2.

Before I fall asleep I should write that down.

I do.

Next morning. Reading it back.

What the hell was I thinking? That’s just silly.

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Oh wait! I just remembered what it was.

Never mind.