October 5
I don't know that this is exactly what I had in mind, but Wayne had a vision, and who am I to turn away from the man with the scissors, especially mid salon crisis?
Headbanger's Heaven:
Part of the reason seeing Spinal Tap on at the theater was so funny and well timed was because of how we'd just seen Def Leppard at the Big E. Now, I'm no rock critic, but I'd be inclined to think that as a rock star, when I began getting booked at big hokey state fairs, I'd be seriously looking into getting some new management. I mean, yes, there was a huge crowd for them, and we were able to tell simply by the outfits and hair that were walking around that a great many of these people hadn't been able to re-realize their early-to-mid-80's heavy metal longings. These were closeted headbangers finally allowed out to see the light of day. These were the chicks 10 years older than me, with the shaggy blond hair, black wiry roots peeking through, smoking marlboroughs and drinking Bud out of wax paper cups with their men, who sported faded tattoos and the toothless, harried look of men who'd been punched in the face one too many times in a drunken motorcycle bar brawl.
In any case, we were able to see by the studded stretch pants, fringed leather boots, roach clips and cut-neck-a la-Flashdance-Tesla '84 tour shirts that the crowd was going to go bullshit when DL took to the stage...
...which woud be swell if they weren't playing at a state fair. No matter how many people showed up, it has to be remembered: STATE FAIR. Free concert with admission. In any case, when we got to the part in Spinal Tap where they get to the amusement park and Janine says "If I told them once, I told them a thousand times, it's Spinal Tap first THEN Puppet Show.." I got all stupid laughing. "You have a big dressing room?" "Oh? Bigger than the puppets is it?" Hah. When I heard the first strains of Def Leppard, I was making a beeline for the depressing petting zoo. Sedated looking lemurs, yak on crack, goats eating zebra shit. You know the kind. Anyhow, I was being drawn to the Petting Zoo of Sorrow, when I heard the guitars and the crowd going nuts. I rejoined Nick and Robio and Steve. We walked closer to the projection screen. It was Def Leppard. Older, more sober. A little more puffy, a few less limbs (well, one..), but still, Def Leppard.
I must confess to getting a tiny little 13 year old Dana thrill out of seeing them there. They were the fantasy men of my youth (tragically enough, I had big hots for Rick, the guy who lost his arm.) right there on the Stage of Champions (note: Name made up for humor's sake, it was something much much worse which I've unfortunately forgotten. You should insert all of the GLORY and HONOR you want when you read the phrase "STAGE OF CHAMPIONS. It is perhaps also important to note that the STAGE OF CHAMPIONS is attached to the FARM-A-RAMA building. No, I'm not kidding). Jesus. If I'd been 13 (or 14, I can't remember exactly) I'd have wet myself. With tears, too. The only song they played even remotely recognizable to me was 'Fooling', and I'd only been thinking about the song because we walked around all day making sort of lame jokes about it. Fooling. Okay, I made lame jokes, but that's because I'm kind of lame.
"TODAY at the BIG E: Farm Exposition and DEF LEPPARD" Hah! (note: Not a real sign.)
Speaking of strange and lame things from the 80s, have any of you heard Ricky Martin's new song? You all know of my little love thing I have for his music. This song, which I think is called "She Bang" (see? almost like "She Bop", but racier for the year 2000!) sounds like pop music being produced during all the big hair rock and roll buttless pants time. Shit like Lisa Lisa and The Cult Jam and Stacey Q and Taylor Dayne. Listen for it. It's like 'Copacabana' mixed with Two of Hearts. I don't love it yet. I suspect someday I will. Im all about Ricky Martin's wild woman songs. Though, we all know the truth about him, so he doesn't fool me..
Work, Pre JournalCon:
When I decided I was going to Journalcon, I kind of kicked around the idea of only going for one night. After talking it over with a few concerned parties, then getting a roommate, I realized that an 8 hour drive for one night of woo hoo wasn't the greatest idea. I took the 6th off from work. This is back in September, maybe the end of August. Any case, it was a while ago. This was long before I had any idea that this particular week was going to be hellaciously busy here. Mind you, it's hellaciously busy in spurts. I'll be running like a motherfucker with grants and slide shows and whatnot for 6 hours straight, and then the next day: Nothing. I sit like a fool. I'm warned "Tomorrow is going to be just as busy! I have things 1-111 cooking, and they all are equally important and all must be done at exactly, exactly the same time!" Color me surprised when I find that the exact opposite is true.
Imagine my absolute incredulousness when I was on the tail end of the "Not that you should feel guilty about this or anything, but some of the days you've been taking off lately haven't been really convenient considering how busy we've been.." talk. Woah it up there, friend. I asked for this day off not one, but TWO months ago. Likewise, the AIDSride (which is the other inconvenient time, I suppose..) days off I asked for in June (July? I can't remember..)
So. My quandary would appear to be thusly: If I am not to ask for days off ahead of time, and he doesn't want me to spring my need for days off upon him, how do I ever get a day off, or am I to only ever take days which are already official holidays and never any kind of personal days? It's a mystery.
Hours Later:
I always do this, this bouncing out of an entry mid thought, but the hair thing took hours and hours and then, charmingly enough, I had to go back to work to make an absolutely essential and earth shatteringly important Powerpoint demonstration. Without it, the earth might, in fact, stop spinning. No, seriously. I laughed too, but it's true! I'm now running around packing shit like a madwoman trying to remember what I forgot. Underwear, check. Deodorant, check. Digital camera, check. Rapier wit, check. I'm all good. See you next week.