Rock On!

So much for doing blog posts about the shutdown. Truth is, I didn't handle the whole shutdown thing very well. For me, it felt very much like it did when I was laid off in the mid-90s, only this time I didn't have a second income to fall back on. Needless to say, I was REALLY glad to be called back to work the following Monday!

So my latest adventure is playing in a band. I've wanted to play in a band since I was in middle school and asked for a drum set or a tambourine for Christmas. I got the tambourine because it was cheaper and made less noise. But the band dream ended up on the shelf...for decades along with other dreams deferred.

A friend of mine started a band and said they needed a keyboard player. I secretly wanted to do it, but I'm a 'by the notes' kinda player and never learned chords. When she point blank asked me, I said yes but I don't have a clue what to do. Didn't matter, I'd learn to became a Gypsy.

Looking back, the first night was comical. They had been together for a year so they were just jamming it out. I looked like a deer in headlights, picking out a note I recognized here and there. But I attacked it like I do everything...studied a chord chart, viewed YouTube, recorded, and practiced, a lot.

Last night we had our final practice before our gig this evening. We've really come together and are sounding tight. Hopefully the deer in headlights won't make a reappearance tonight because I'm really excited about performing for our friends. Wish us luck!

Furlough Day 1: A Ray of Hope in an Epic Fail Sort of Day

I Love Congress...said No. One. Ever. The nice day makes the furlough a little easier to tolerate, but I'd really rather be doing my job supporting our Soldiers.

So after being furloughed this morning I stopped by a grocery store. Standing ahead of me in line was a WWII/Korean War vet with an Army hat on. He turned to me an said, "I do not believe what is going on in Washington right now." I replied, "Believe it, I just got furloughed."

Then he said, "I have something for you," and reached for his wallet pulling out one of many carefully folded sheets of paper. "This is an application for the National Organization For Women, NOW" and handed me the paper. As he turned to leave, he touched my arm and said "Join...and be sure to vote." 

A bright ray of hope in an Epic Fail sort of a day!

Checking In

Usually I'm too busy with life to bother keeping up this blog. After my epic feat of completing the Free Press Half Marathon last year, everything seemed to pale in comparison. I spent 6 weeks during the first half of 2013 attending training for and doing a job I love...supporting our Soldiers.

This Summer I was among the legions of civil servants who were furloughed. At first, a day off every week was cool, but the impact hurt when paychecks arrived. Thirteen weeks turned into eleven, and finally the furlough days were cut to 6. I, for one, was glad to return full time. Less than two months later, here we are again.

Here's to hoping there is a budget or continuing resolution passed so we don't have to face furloughs again. If not and I'm furloughed, I'll use this little space on the internet to shine some light. On what, I'm not sure, but I'll go where the spirit leads me.