Rob Lifford

This week, Hurricane Claudette blew in from the gulf and hit the Texas coastline. And with that, I’ve been working like a beaver on crack. Besides a busy freelance schedule and my usual time at FGI, I’ve been pulling evening shifts for the last three days as a Public Information Reservist for the state Division of Emergency Management.

Sadly, the storm took two lives in Texas, and that’s two too many, but it really was fascinating to get an inside look at the state’s impressive response and recovery efforts. My own role was minimal, but I’m looking forward to helping out again over there in any way I can.

I got within spitting distance of the Governor today during his press conference at the Emergency Operations Center, but I had no good reason to actually spit on him, so I refrained.

Good weekend so far… did the Ty Hager gig at the Hideout last night as a duo instead of a full band, which lent a good opportunity to work carefully on vocal harmonies. Man, it’s fun to sing sometimes. Other times it’s mortifying. Anyway, I had another gig, this time with Lazy Fingers, this morning at the Austin Farmers’ Market. None of us were too excited about playing at 9am, but the crowd was really receptive and the tips were great. I was especially pleased that we busted out two never-played-before Peter Rowan songs, which was appropriate since the former Bluegrass Boy himself will be playing in Austin later tonight.

Sadly, though, that may be my last gig ever with Mike Grigoni, Lazy Fingers’ dobro player since we started gigging back in February. He’s moving back to Seattle, and we’ll (I think I can speak for everybody in the band) miss the hell out of him.

The Central Texas Bluegrass Association had its annual band scramble at Artz Rib House tonight. Check that link if you don’t know what a “band scramble” is. I wound up in a band that we called the Cliche Mountain Boys and got to play with a truly phenomenal banjo picker, Rolf Sieker from the Sieker Band, plus honky-tonk singer/songwriter Dallas Wayne on bass, my buddy Lew Card on mandolin, Doug Taylor on guitar and vocals, and Dan (whose last name escapes me) on fiddle. There was a great crowd on hand at Artz. Crazy mad praise to Eddie Collins for running the show again.

I think that last post qualifies as a rant. Dang, I’m proud to have my first rant on my blog. I’m all freakin’ choked up.

Not much to say today except WOO HOO, the house is coming together nicely. Thanks Ann & Mike.

Can a boss really interrupt a part-time contract employee’s peace and quiet at home, at 9:30 pm on a Wednesday night, to gripe about something that the boss feels was done wrong? Even when the issue can be rectified in mere minutes at the start of the next day’s business hours? Even when the “problem” creates a better, more desireable situation for that boss’ client? Evidently, she or he can. And sometimes will. I guess I just needed a reality check, huh? Yow.

Note to world: look up “work” and “life” in a dictionary. Last I checked, they weren’t the same. They weren’t even close. Could everyone please just remember that the next time there’s a “crisis” at work? Kamsa hamnida.

At least this kind of thing won’t happen when I’m the boss.

Didn’t make it. Maybe I’ll toss these cigarettes tonight and start fresh tomorrow. Maybe.