Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 27 Oct 2007 12:44 pm |
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Oh heck.. All Caps... My god...
No Barry, several things have been happening.
Most all good... depending on how you look at it..
I've been gigging less this year, about two weekends a month with a couple different bands. One is "Pete Ford" where I replace Doug Jones for the ones he can't do, that has been mostly casino work, getting to travel to Wyoming to do a "Ranch Rodeo" and other stuff. Thanks to Doug, and Pete and the guys, I think I've made more money this year than years I did every weekend..
We're playing at a regional casino tonite.
Not meaning anything personal, but I've been trying to keep it down a little bit as to where some of the gigs are, since there seems to be an automatic process of bands finding out "where there are "gigs"" and before you know it, there are "jam bands" or other lowball affairs coming in and offering to play for drinks, 'split the weekends' or even 'split nights'. It's ruined the best venues here, and I guess silence about "where these gigs are" is something I can do to help..
Haven't been to any "conventions" or "jams" here and mostly because of time, but there's just not much of a "working trade" in PSG here anymore, and I miss it.
Day work.. I've been "truck bossing" about 12 trucks from End Dumps Lowboy, Transfers Drop Boxes, and equipment hauling. Local Excavation Co. Lots of work. 12 trucks and I don't right now know how many drivers.. I replace the ones that don't show, manipulate, intimidate, and otherwise convince the ones that are there and still fear me to do their jobs so I don't have to. I tried managing them by having them "like me", but that seemed to change from day to day. Fear seems to last longer, and be more durable as a "management tool".
I've been hauling 69" 40' pipe to our big water line job in Turner OR, 75 miles about three round trips a day, loading, unloading, making my days about 14hrs long. I got "fired", which I didn't have time to pay attention to. I think they've finally quit trying since I charge them more every time it happens...
Had three badly infected molars yanked which has improved my life 400%.
I did take a GREAT "One Week Paid" (which I've never had before) Vacation, with a gig in the middle and got to visit my childhood "hometowns". First vacation I've had in ten years.
Also I took gigs and gigs of "Happy Friendly Eric" "Utube" type movies on a cheap digicam, and have been spending what time I'm no working, practicing tele, eating, and napping editing them into Dvds etc.
Other than that, just enjoying life, and making sure I stay out of Steve Hinson's way on these casino gigs until he gets over Sherman's March... 
Ran over my cel phone with a Log Truck and have been frantically trying to reprogram 300 numbers into the replacement..
Other than that...
Same old stuff.
Also praying for God to help Duane Marrs in his battles with mortality.
Why?
Got something I can spend my spare 5 minutes in the next month on?
Thanks for asking.
EJL/HFLE |
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