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George Gee Again
We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone.
-- Dr. Loretta Scott
Thursday, October 21, 1999
One year ago: Stupid Cold
Two years ago: An Admirable Evasion
This morning Chip, my boss, came out of a meeting with a programmer who has been contracting for us. They have been talking about this guy coming to work in our office (still on a contract basis) now that he's left his full-time job, but couldn't come to an agreement. Chip was irritated! The time he spent negotiating now feels like time wasted, and this puts paid to his plan that the contractor could help me as I'm learning Java. (I'm still learning it, however.) After the Java guy left, Chip came immediately to my office and started ranting. I wasn't made uncomfortable, though, since I knew the noise wasn't directed at me. It's frustrating for all of us.
The company that rents out these short-term offices threw a get-together at the end of the day, with an Octoberfest theme. The beer wasn't German, but the food did come from a German deli on Mercer Island -- pretzel rolls (soft rolls that did taste a bit like pretzels, somehow), dry sausages, gummi bears, and Toblerone chocolate. The chocolate was the best part! I don't think anyone on our team is really good at the sort of glad-handing and networking chitchat that seems required at a gathering of this nature, but we did talk to a few other people who work on these two floors. The whole affair reminded me of the continental breakfast you might get in a hotel lobby. Kellie and Kat were lucky enough to have their cards drawn for prizes (gift certificates from the downstairs deli and Tower records) so that made it worthwhile.
* * * * * * * *
Hallie, owner of the Century Ballroom, sent out some email asking for volunteers to drive the George Gee band around during their time in Seattle. This was a last minute thing -- I guess George wanted to save some money! I decided I could do a run from the hotel (by Seattle Center) up to the ballroom tonight.
The hotel wasn't exactly where I thought it was, but I found it. I pulled up to the front entrance (going the wrong way in the parking lot) and rolled down the passenger window. "George?" I called to the guys standing there. I knew that neither was George Gee, but only one of them was carrying an instrument, and I thought the band might have already left (I was a few minutes late). It took a few minutes to get things organized, but I ended up with four of the band members squeezed into the car with me, and their instruments in the trunk. I was pleased that my car was neat enough and empty enough that I could do this with no problem.
I was surprised to find that I was the only volunteer! The other band members would take cabs. It was a last-minute thing, and not the kind of request that we get often, so I guess that explains it. I think that George was trying for some frugality, a necessary thing when touring a large band (ten players and himself).
So off we went on the short drive to Capitol Hill. My right rear tire was being scraped by the fender, because of the extra weight in the car. The band members range from young, in their twenties perhaps, to veteran players. I was amused, listening to them speculate about what sports events might be happening tomorrow during the day, or what other things might be fun to do in the city. The Mariners were eliminated from post-season play a long time ago!
I dropped them off outside the Oddfellows lodge, home of the Century Ballroom, then went and parked near my place and walked back. It was a bit early to go to the ballroom, but it didn't make sense to go home for such a short period of time, so I stopped on the way at Value Village. They have a ton of halloween stuff, but it doesn't seem right to have new merchandise in what is supposedly a thrift store. I didn't buy anything; I don't even know what I'll be doing this Halloween! I hope to go to Trolloween, though. I've had fun there every year! (1998, 1997, 1996, 1995)
I wandered up to the cafe that is attached to the Century, and had a bowl of tortilla soup. It tasted great, but contained no visible tortillas. I think the chef called it that because it was thickened with masa (corn flour). The dominant taste was tomato-ey.
The band started playing at nine o'clock, as soon as the salsa class Hallie was teaching finished up. I was surprised! I'd gotten the idea that there was a pre-dance lesson. I think some other folks had that idea too, since the crowd was pretty thin! It picked up a bit later, but there was dance space available throughout the evening, which I don't think was true the last time George Gee came to town. That wasa a Friday night, which may have made the difference.
The first set had the fastest tempos and more of them, with things slowing down (thank heaven!) later in the evening. I successfully did some balboa with my friend Mark, an accomplishment since I don't remember much of what I learned in my one and only balboa workshop session. It was the only strategy for handling the blistering pace in that number, since quitting the dance floor would be admitting defeat, and neither of us wanted to do that.
The funniest sight of the evening: Hallie, Allison, and Stacy, dancing some "previews" of the new show that the "Swing This!" performance troupe will be doing soon. They are using George's music in the show, so they fooled around using some of the choreography. Hallie was flat on her back on the floor at one point!
I sat out some of the evening, but I got enough dances in that I was pleasantly tired by the time I left. I bought the new CD before I left; I'll listen to it at work tomorrow.
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