I’ve known for a few weeks — more like months, really — that there was a period of time looming where my job was going to be, for a few months or so, brain-crushingly tedious and boring. Until this recent shift in duties (and office space, and don’t get me started), I wore quite a few geeky hats, and the folks I work with were supportive of that, even if I lacked the immediate technical know-how. In other words, they let me jump in, and learn my way. And I’ve learned a lot, and built a lot. But now this looming period of mind-crushingly dull work is upon me, and I’m wearing just the one hat, and although it hurts me to admit it, what it mostly says on this hat is — gulp — “DATA ENTRY.”
Don’t get me wrong. I am of course grateful to have a job at all. I’m also confident that this period will end, and a more interesting project will take its place. But in the meantime, I’m struggling to avoid getting into that mindset where, BECAUSE my work-time is so tedious, I then use my non-work time exclusively for “recovery” from it. And back again. And so on. I wrote about that in my last post, the “hill and trough” mentality, and how music is a way out of it.
Indeed. Towards that end, I’ve contacted John and Larry again to set up a future recording date. I hope they don’t shiver to learn I’d like to try cutting “You Are Not Your Own” again. Y’see, as I actually zero in on a complete set of lyrics, it’s clear to me that the structure isn’t going to be as loosey-goosey as I’d initially thought it could be. Also, rather unexpectedly, I have a line on a possible barely-out-of-state gig. That’s purely in the fact-finding stages, but it would be pretty cool to do. Finally, I’m going to do some kind of self-promotional blitz on this upcoming Tuesday, since I’m taking the day off for a doctor’s appointment anyway. I have generous sick days, and they always tell people to take more of them, so I do. Normally, I just kind of bum around on “doctor days,” but this time I’ll also be on kind of a mission. When I dipped back into gig-getting recently, I assumed that email and facebook and all that was the way to go, but this has proven rather silent. (Either that, or I suck so much people are embarrassed to get back to me, heh.) I think I need to employ a little more of the “personal touch,” dropping off a CD with a note or something. For some places. Even if I just send fresh emails out to new places, or make calls on Tuesday, it’ll be a good day.
Because I can’t let the drudgery turn me into a slug. Musically or otherwise. Thanks for bearing witness, and stay tuned. I’m getting practiced enough again to lay down a one-miker soon, and I’ll try to get the birthday party stuff off of cassette, too…
