Too Comfortable

I'm playing a Rummy 500 game during a break at work. I'm ahead by 96 going into the 4th round. What happens? I get set and only earn 11 points while the computer (my cell phone) racks up 121 points for a 501 - 487 victory!

I'm certainly not going to get all bent out of shape about a Rummy 500 game, but I did think about something after the game was over. Like many times in life, I thought a victory was guaranteed. I thought I was going to sail through the final round and end up with an outcome but, in reality, it didn't turn out that way.

It's a lesson I have learned many times in my life.

For example, I thought I was going to be the drummer for Avery Riot in April 2016. Instead, I didn't get the gig.

For example, a short 842 days ago, I thought I would be working at Pearson until I retired. Instead, I was laid off 841 days (or 2 years, 3 months, 2 weeks, 6 days) ago.

Sometimes, though, I am the computer.

For example, I thought I would never reach 1000 blog posts. Instead, I have published 6069 posts in 3711 days with an average of posting 1.635408245755861 posts a day. I have 3594 days until 3/28/2028 to post 2.376460767946578 times a day to reach a total of 8541 posts between 3/18/2018 and 3/18/2028, which will bump up that 1.635408245755861 posts a day average to an even 2 posts a day average.

For example, I thought I would never get over my high school sweetheart. Instead, when I saw her at my nephew's Confirmation reception in Cedar Falls, I did not have the urge to go talk to her.

My point is that I cannot take anything as a given. Instead, I must always work hard for what I want.

Potential

I have not really wrote about any Ideal Band situations lately and that's because, well, there are none. There was a brief glimpse of potential with a Cedar Rapids-based band but, at this point, it seems as though that is unlikely. That band lost its drummer, bassist, and guitarist so even if I committed to playing with them, the melodic section of the band needs to be rounded out.

Meanwhile, on Craigslist, I see ads like the one below from time to time:

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I am a 40 year old guitar player. I have been playing for three years or so. I'm looking for someone around my age to jam with. I like classic rock, but I'll play anything. I am not a super guitar player, but I like to play and learn. I just want to play and improve. Here is a link to some stuff I've done. Nothing really serious. Just me messing around.

1. https://youtu.be/tdopzmgkyHM
   
2. https://youtu.be/oGQWLXveIwU
   
3. https://youtu.be/yiSO9j_9Mww
   
4. https://youtu.be/HMhlgAkgy40
   
5. https://youtu.be/R7_igAPqkbA
   
6. https://youtu.be/Jc2rAKw1OXI
   
7. https://youtu.be/yuAC8nnrgGI
   
8. https://youtu.be/TtfYeiS47gM
   
9. https://youtu.be/qlVHnPXuU90
   
10. https://youtu.be/KMsRCHEhEkU
    
11. https://youtu.be/T2RG212QsIE
    
12. https://youtu.be/yHA315Z7pxg
    

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My reaction to this ad is a double-edged sword. Yes, we are similar in age, but no, I don't really want to be in a situation where I'm not "out" playing gigs almost right away. It's nothing personal - the guy in the ad and videos below may be the greatest dude in the world. I just don't want to find out by not playing gigs. I cringe about the idea of repeating what I did with Uncle Rico the Band. It's definitely still in the forefront of my mind. I cannot see putting myself through 15 x 4 hour rehearsals (3 hours playing, 1 hour commute), only to  end up playing a single gig. It's not only what I do not want to repeat - I WON'T repeat it. I refuse. That's why I cling to the idea that playing drums in a local band, such as one of these:

1. Motorboat
2. Rattlebox
3. Avery Riot
4. Cocked n Loaded
5. Crazy Delicious
6. Drama Kings
7. Vicebox

would be more appropriate for me. If the drummer in one of those bands couldn't play anymore with the band anymore and the band decided to find a replacement drummer to step in and play their existing playlist after, say, a couple of rehearsals is what I want. On 3/9/2018, I call that situation one that would be for me - my "Ideal Band" when I think about playing drums in a band these days.

Editor's Note: The local bands listed above are listed randomly. Nothing is in the works to replace any of the existing drummers in those bands. Editor's Note: Updated the list of local bands listed above to reflect those bands that have broken up / are no longer active (as far as I know) as of Monday, 1-10-2022.