Tonight I was looking for a tape. A specific cassette tape from a band called Metro Waste. Metro Waste was an early, southern region punk band. I told a friend that I had a Metro Waste demo. I knew it was somewhere in the house and I told him if I found it and it was in decent condition - I would make him a copy. Nostalgia!
I didn't find that tape, though. What I found was an empty tape case with a business card for Metro Waste tucked inside. I am pretty sure that tape is around here somewhere...I will keep looking.
Another tape I found was an old and dusty Sony. One side was printed with B-52's and the other side with Talking Heads. I was about to toss this in the waste bin when something inside of me said, 'listen to it first! Don't Worry might be on that tape!'
So I did.
The side that was labeled B-52's was NOT the B-52's. It took me a few seconds to place the two chirping, somewhat southern accented, female voices - it was Jenifer and myself laughing and hooting about something going on in a parking lot. I rewound the tape and started it from the beginning and soon realized it was a documentation of a time Jenifer and I had that involved going to a Tav Falco show at the SOB, going to the flea market at Barton Coliseum, stopping by Jef Duncan's house and going to the coin laundry. The whole tape was for the benefit of our friend Susan, who we missed enough to pretend that the tape player was actually her. I guess it was our intention to include Susan in our good times one way or the other. I do not remember making this tape and I have no idea if we ever made a copy and actually sent it to Susan.
The making of this tape may be blurry but I very much remember bleaching my hair blonde - not even bothering to take in to account that I was in a play that was opening soon. I lament to 'Susan the tape recorder' that "I wanted to be blonde but my hair had a different plan entirely". The dye job was indeed horrible, it was more a new born yellow chick color than a specific blonde. I vaguely remember going to hear Tav Falco and visiting the flea market. I talk about seeing an old boyfriend at the TF show and Jenifer and I discuss what we would have liked to have done with the idiot slam dancers who always seemed to screw up the best dance songs. We are laughing and joking and hearing it made me laugh out loud because, hell, we are funny as shit. We sound like we only know how to have a good time.
I sat on the edge of the bed and listened. I played some guitar for Susan then muttered something about getting a job. "Hey, Susan! It is about 36 degrees outside. Every one is going to hear Jubilee Dive, but I think I am going to stay home because the weather looks bad. It is Januarrrrryyyyy 27th...1987".
1987...When the only thing I knew was how to have a good time.
This has to be the coolest idea I have seen in a long time. I wish I was this clever...
I want to say something about this film - but I can't. All I can say is that you should watch it. Man, woman, teenager...everyone should be made to watch this film. If it doesn't burn a hole in you, make you think, make you cry...then I don't know from what kind of stuff you are made. If you can shrug this one off...seriously...you may be the biggest douche bag in the world.
It was about time I had my re-occurring Camera Mart dream.
Back Story: I worked at Camera Mart for 5 or 6 years in the late 80's and early 90's. I loved it at first then grew to hate it. I still dream about working there after all this time. I have never dreamed about the place and not known in the dream that I didn't really work there anymore or that I have been away for many years and I am just coming back for a quick visit. I always have a sense of "this is not real, but let's see where it goes."
The Dream
As usual, I am wandering around the store trying to find something to do. I see Mike (who in real life has been deceased for about 3 years or more). We talk but I can't remember what about. I wish I could. Talking to dead people in my dreams seems like it could be important.
He looks really thin, and I make a mental note of this. He is dressed in his usual pocket front t-shirt, 70's style basketball shorts (the really short and tight ones with the piping) and sneakers. Usually the dreams look very blue shadowed, this time it was just sort of murky and lowly saturated.
The dream was pretty boring, other than there seemed to be a problem with some new workers...and even though the other people in the store were really bothered by this, I didn't seem to care. This pissed off the people who were complaining about the new workers. I also noticed there weren't any cameras or film processing equipment in the store, so I have no idea what everyone was doing there.
At one point Nancy (the other owner) told me to go outside and clean up the parking lot. Sure, Nance! Anything to get the hell out of that store.
It would be a damned shame if this guy gets this gig.
