So That Was Thursday, Was It?

Made a little more challenging because as I was oiling the valves on my baritone before rehearsals, the 3rd valve fell on the floor and was bent just enough to not let it function. The bottom is slightly out of round, and there was nothing I could do about it except play the notes which don't require the 3rd valve. This is not too big a loss because it's the least-used valve, and except for one tune which had a lot of low D's, maybe one note in 10 was skipped.

So instead of having no plans for tomorrow, Plan A is to take the horn to the repair shop down the block and see if they can do anything in time for Sunday's concert, and if not, go to the new music store in town and rent a horn. I may get lucky and they will rent it for the weekend, but I expect a month minimum. I also may have to go to more than one rental place to find one. Or a pawn shop, but I'm not seeking that major a cashectomy.

Got another job bite from a contract company in Joisey for a job in Los Gatos. I don't think anything will come of that, it seems to want automation, which the not very English-capable man from India did not understand from reading the posting he sent me. He also said, at about 5 pm, I would be getting a call right away from a technical interviewer, but that didn't happen.

Palo Alto school district sent me a message saying they needed my transcripts to show I had the education I claimed. As if I have them after 37 years, as if it matters for a non-teaching job which doesn't need a degree. No thanks.

Still reading Sherri S. Tepper's Six Moon Dance. Not her best work*, but she's very readable, hard to put the book down. smallship1 might find interesting - the further you go into the book, the more Tepper is taking a bit of magic and making it science fiction. Instead of Clark's Law, this book explores what happens when something which a technological society has dismissed as myth turns out to be science.

Decided to make my rendition of Toll House Cookies for the band potluck. Potluck is after the concert Sunday, will make the cookies either tomorrow or Saturday. If they fail, I have a package of Chips Ahoy ready.

*In Tepper's case, "not her best work" is about the same as a Shakespeare aficionado saying Troilus and Cressida is not his best work.

Repairs 'r' Us

Nikon shipped the D300 back this morning, I should get it Monday. Will test it, take some pix of it, then put it back on eBay.

Took the Baritone in to West Valley Music which is now downtown MV on Castro St. and they will have their tech call me to let me know if it can be fixed in time for Sunday's concert. If not, I should be able to rent one from them while it's being fixed.

Still being yanked around by Indian recruiters who don't follow up until I lean on them, and by then it's too late, or I found they have misread the requirements and I'm not qualified. I didn't have this problem last time around.

America's Got People Who Sing Off Key

America's Got Talent gave their $million prize and Vegas contract to a man who should not even have made it to the first round. He sings off key, his guitar playing is barely adequate, and he has zero charisma. Dozens of seriously talented people and groups were passed over because the alleged judges forgot the name of the show, and kept promoting this Kevin Skinner guy because they think he has heart. Frankly, I don't see it.

IMHO, the prize should have gone to Barbara Padilla or Lawrence Beaman. Skinner is not nearly at their level.
You be the judge (video embeds behind the cut)

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[Poll #1462518]

This would have been a 2 Migraine day

Out of 3. Except I don't get migraines.

Spent too much quality time this morning with the automated litterboxes. The motor is just not powerful enough to do the job all the time.

Brought the baritone to West Valley Music at 11, their tech was not in yet so I left it and asked to have him call me with a time estimate, explaining that I needed a horn for Sunday, and would rent one if the repair could not be done in time.

Phoned the company liaison at a contract firm which was supposed to have lined up an interview for me, but never called back. After some heavy guilt ladling on my part, she said she might be able to squeeze in an interview for late today, she would check with the client and call me.

Went home to wait for those two calls. Contract lady called with an interview appointment for 6 pm! No word from the music store.

Watched three "special interest" DVDs on fast forward. Feeling restless I went back downtown and parked myself with an iced tea and a book at Red Rock Cafe, and at 4 pm went to the music store. They forgot to call. Turns out they can do the repair pretty inexpensively, but "it would have to be between appointments" which means probably not in time for Sunday. So I rented a horn. The one I got is a very strange upright with the valves hidden behind the bell the way it has to be held. It's also very lightweight, the case is heavier than the horn. Definitely a school beginner baritone. So I've got it for 3 months, their minimum. It'll be interesting playing this style horn.

After dropping it off at home, I took off for the interview an hour early to avoid some of the rush hour traffic, found the place (my GPS was off by a block) and then went to the nearby Togo's for a light dinner. Interview was a good one, I like the manager, and it would be a very interesting challenge, since he's looking for one person to do what usually takes three people to do. Not in terms of hours, but in terms of expertise. We talked for an hour, he wants me back Monday to interview with a few more people.

Home, detoured to buy brown sugar, mixed up a double batch of tollhouse cookie dough, and am waiting for it to cool in the fridge. Re-filled the hummingbird feeders. Spent more quality time with the litterboxes. :-(

Plans for tomorrow:
Manicure - maybe I'll ride my bike there
Transfer the one surviving betta (female) to the small container and clean out the 5-gal tank.

Baked

Just finished baking about 6 dozen chocolate chip cookies for the post-final-concert potluck Sunday. Only sampled one from every other batch. :-)