***

While you're at it, go ahead and stop by www.myspace.com/patblairmusic and sign up to be my friend. Please note the upcoming show, as well. Word on the street is that it will be amazing, and that it might be recorded and turned into a CD. Of course, that's just the rumor.

Purchase today's tune: "Champagne Super Nover" from Oasis' (What's the Story) Morning Glory?

Purchase today's tune: "Another One Bites the Dust" from Queen's Greatest Hits
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Additional Show Notes
Hauntingly familiar Big 12 finale for Cyclones
Taylor tosses 2 TDs as Huskers dominate Buffs
Student sections cleared at CU game for tossing debris
No. 23 Iowa State Upset by Iona 89-72

Purchase today's tune: "30,000 Pounds of Bananas" from Harry Chapin's Greatest Stories Live
Also, I should probably mention that other song too.
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Additional Show Notes
Lawyer: Kevorkian May Die Before '07 Parole
Iowa State rooting for Big Red?

Purchase today's tune: "All The Trees Of The Fields Will Clap Their Hands" from Sufjan Steven's Seven Swans
Download Sufjan mp3s for free!

Purchase today's tune: "Home Sweet Home " from Rev Run's Distortion
Email Pat

I really like Pearls Before Swine. In fact, Rat often reminds me of me. In fact, I was so inspired, I started making my own artwork.
Do you like it? I think it is brilliant.

From: The Rock Booking
Sent: Friday, October 07, 2005 7:16 PM
To: Pat Blair
Subject: show @ The Rock

I really hate to do this after all we have gone through to find a date that works for both ends, but I have to cancel the show for October 22nd. We have a national tour that is coming through on that day and I have been instructed that those take priority over whatever else is going on.

I am so sorry to have to do this. Please let me know if there are any dates through the end of November or in December that will work for you.

Amanda

The Rock Booking
www.therockpapio.com

While it is quite unprofessional to post this email online, I think my actions pale in comparison. This is a gig that we had been working on scheduling since April. This is a show that was scheduled on July 31st, confirmed on August 25th, and re-confirmed on September 27th, aka 10 days ago. And now, 15 days out, I get this.
I haven't responded yet because each reply I have written has become successively more beligerant, and I don't want to go overboard. On the other hand, I don't want to let them off too easily, either.
Omaha is my home town. I want to play there. I wanted friends and family to have the opportunity to see me do what I love to do. I wanted at least one more good ol' Lone Strangers road trip. So now what?
Dear friends, I leave it to you. Because I am at a complete loss right now. If there was someone here to punch, I would probably have broken my hand already.

UPDATE
It would appear that the 'national' acts are Over It, Haven 21, Go Crash Audio, and the Semester. Has anyone heard of any of these bands?

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The other night, my roommate Mike and I came up with one of the best analogies I've heard in quite a while. While its usefulness is limited to those who are familiar with Gumby's pizza, I think it's worth sharing:
Sinning is like eating Pokey Stix. If you've done it before, your realize it's probably not the best idea. Alas, there is instant gratification: if it weren't fun at the time, no one would have any interest. Unfortunately, there are always consequences.
Some are more dire than others, some are immediate, while others are long-term, some are expected, even dreaded, and some may come as quite the surprise. But consequences... always consequences.
So you swear to yourself that you have learned your lesson, that you are finished, and that there will be no more sin in your life. Until next Tuesday when everyone orders Pokey Stix again.

***

An actual workplace conversation, from a construction site, as relayed to me by a friend.

(Whilst framing a wall)
Worker 1: Do you know how to crown a stud?
Worker 2: What?
Worker 1: (Louder) DO you know how to crown a stud?
Worker 2: I'm not familiar with that terminology.
Worker 3: (Shouting from the ceiling above wherest he was working) I'm pretty sure it has something to do with racehorses.

I, of course, did not witness this conversation, and I most certainly didn't participate in it. But I am told that no one heard the third worker, and the conversation continued on. How unfortunate.

The only possible mistakes would be excluding Pretentious and Ridiculous.

***

I know that many of you are looking for a great concert to attend after Saturday's Green Day show in Des Moines (which I am refusing to attend because socialists like Green Day deserve done of my hard-earned American dollars). You'll be glad to know I've found something for you - November 2, 2005.