The Night Shift

[pro70z28]

Yup, could be they'll still call? If not....your right....something better will come along.

[WildcatOne]

Thanks, y'all. That could be the case. As it is, I'll be back Monday in the Hood with Randolph and Arturo, Joaquin and Jose. We're going to do a major remodel of Mr. Grantham's house. Great folks (I cannot say that Arturo is the brightest guy I've ever met, but he has a good heart and he works hard all day long. He drives a Honda SUV without a driver's license, insurance or up-to-date documentation, plus it still has the police car pound numbers written on the passenger-side window) and they've come to accept me. Sort of. But at National Signs, Javier told me he was going to let me know one way or the other by Friday at noon. I guess he let me know. If I'm wrong about this and he calls me next week or something, cool. I'm there. But for now it's not happening. Well, it's Friday and I just got the back yard mowed, much to the delight of the neighborhood birds, who dang near climb up on me like I was St. Francis of Assissi or something. All that grass seed's hacked up for 'em to eat...and I have a couple of Red Barons ready to cook up for din-din. 2 for $7. Life is good. It's the little things that count. Don't forget Mother's Day Sunday, y'all...Scott (drummer, Citykings and an AIMFunds regional manager) sent a job offer to Miss Debby today that one of his buddies has open where she can dang near triple her salary if she dares to try...I thanked him...haven't heard what she did about it...she ain't having much to do with me lately. Look. Let's be frank for a moment. Sometimes it seems like it's all about the check. In fact, it has always been that way here. Ah, shoot, I need to get off that. Y'all know what I'm talking about. Gonna see what the loud cars did today in Atlanta and have me some pizza...Cheers, WC1

[Billy Mac]

We're pullin' for ya Cat....Don't get yer fur ruffled or yer whiskers outta whack about it....it WILL work out for ya!!! (but I've got my fingy's crossed...."just in case" )

[WildcatOne]

Turns out the owner of National Signs, Al, is in Jakarta, Indonesia for a while, overseeing construction and implementation of some signs they made for a client over there...my line is still hot over there. I heard this from Akbar a couple of nights ago. He's still 100% behind me on it. He also talked to Javier and he said Javier needs approval from Al once he gets back and it all looks good...

I got sick with this dadgum sinus and ear thing so I stayed home tonight. I had a practice with the Citykings; we're playing 5th Street Saturday night...we're good to go...once we crank it up we'll be fine. I'm also playing with Shakedown at Signature Point earlier that day, from 1-4...it's a good-paying gig, so the money will be most welcome. The songwriting class is really going great. Last night, I had Bill Gibson come in from the Citykings and he talked and we played a couple of songs and they loved Bill and his music. There are a few high school students taking this class...I had Blake play a couple of his songs last night and I was completely blown away by the guy. I can't understand anything he says...he talks fast and he mumbles...but he sure was clear on his vocals with the song he wrote. It's progressive music, and he is an accomplished guitarist...extremely well-done songs...then Sara decided she wanted to demonstrate her songs. I picked up my guitar and played behind her for 3 songs. Her deep voice gives me chills and her way of singing the words she wrote belies her young age...she sounds like a 35-year-old woman and you look at her and she's a 16-year-old girl. Well, I had a little talkie-poo with her after class and I told her I would like for her parents to get in touch with me. Bill was there and he was also totally knocked out by this girl's unbelievably creative songs...I told her I'd like to help. I can arrange these songs and get her a demo recorded of them...we talked for a long time and she's very solid...not flaky...I'm sure she's capable of flaking, but her art is absolutely beautiful. That's all I'm interested in. I'm gonna get her some studio time at either Bill's or Lynn's and play full backup on her songs. I came up with music to 3 of them and once I figured out what she's doing with her vocals, the chords fell right into place...her voice is hauntingly strange and exotic...her lyrics are totally gut-wrenchingly honest, almost brutal...I told her I can do this, but once she gets a band to back her up, she needs to get one with people her age. Not that we couldn't play her stuff, it would just be right, ya know...but I also told her to be very careful out there. Stay close to Mom. Bill totally agreed with me about her potential. He couldn't believe how advanced and gifted she is...and she's had no musical training...she doesn't play an instrument...except her voice. She has perfect pitch. That is, she can sing her songs in a key that I don't have to adjust to, either with my guitar or with her voice. She's already on key. Heck, even Brandi don't do that...anyway, next Wednesday I'm bringing Willie D in to talk. Willie plays drums for Shakedown, runs sound for the Citykings, and he has made a few CDs, toured with Ozzfest (with Pure Rubbish, the band he put together with his kids Derek and Evan), Syl Sylvain, opened for AC/DC, and he's a very funny, intelligent, animated and interesting guy. His influences are the New York Dolls, the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, and Led Zeppelin. He's a rock star. I never get tired of listening to Willie. There's only one Willie D on this planet. So some of the young kids in that class (16-19) that are into punk and metal are gonna love this guy...the old guy will act disgusted and bored, but Willie knows about him in advance and he's going to take care of business in there next Wednesday night. Willie rocks! Life is good. WC1

[pro70z28]

Still pullin' for you to get the sign job WC.

[draglist]

Great stuff, WC1... can't wait to hear the gal's stuff. bp

[Billy Mac]

don'tcha just love it when a diamond in the rough lands in yer lap (so to speak )....you "could" have yourself a superstar in the making, Cat!.....Give her ALL of our best wishes.....with You AND the Draglist bunch on her side...how could she lose??

[WildcatOne]

Thanks, y'all. I look forward to producing her demos. She's great.

I just got back from Randolph's house. Jose was waiting there for me to show up so he could tell me what happened. Late yesterday afternoon, Randolph got in a wreck somewhere. His truck was totaled. The cops took him to jail. He gets out at around 10 or 11 this morning. The guy that hit him had no driver's license, insurance or registration papers on the car he was driving, and he has no legal documentation on himself whatsoever. The accident was Randolph's fault. The guy that hit him's passenger, also a non-documented person, was taken to the hospital with a possible neck injury. ($$$$$$$?)

By the way, Jose waited there for me so he could tell me what happened. He didn't have to do that. Jose is a legal resident and he is the only one of the whole lot of Randolph's workers who has established himself and is working to become a US citizen. He's paid a lot of money and gone through all of the procedures to legitimize himself here. I have a lot of respect for him. He's doing the right thing.

I hope Randolph can get through this OK. That's all I know for now. WC1

[wheelzman]

Cat I sure hope Randolph is okay. Tell him we are pulling for him.

And the drama of the CAT goes on. You need nine lives don't you? God bless.

[WildcatOne]

Shoot, looks like I'm going to use 'em all, too, Wheelz. Thanks. Wife's car just broke down, I'm taking her to work. What a crazy day this has been so far and it ain't even lunch time yet...At least we're all healthy and dealing with stuff...is it the full moon? WC1