Last night I posted that a platics/home storage warehouse where I worked as a programmer 2001-03 was hit hard by tornadoes that rolled through Earle, Arkansas. I was worried that some of my former co-workers could be injured or dead, and that all of them may be jobless. News reports since then are encouraging. This report talks about the factory and said that all the employees survived without injury. Another news report said that Warehouse A had been destroyed, which is the warehouse shown in all the tornado photos. However, the company also had warehouses B and C, as well as the main office area. Those are not mentioned, so I assume those were left at least reasonably intact. Again, my thoughts go out to everyone who works there, and I’m glad to hear everyone made it through without injury.
Not being in the best of moods yesterday, I planned to skip Music Fest. I went to the Saucer about 6:00 yesterday and had a couple of beers. Around 7:30 I checked the radar on my phone’s wireless Internet, and the worst of the storm appeared to have moved east of Memphis, so I changed my mind. I went home, got my ticket, and headed to Music Fest.
Went straight for the Memphis Flyer tent, where I had been put on the guest list. A lot of my friends were there, having got in through their own connections to the Flyer, and I got to meet a lot of the Flyer staff. I can tell I’m going to have a fun time there this weekend. Ran into Circa owner/Ques Brothers teammate John Bragg and we talked about his ideas for dishes to enter into the “other” category for BBQ Fest in two weeks.
About 9:00 it started raining. Never fails. At least I had a tent to get underneath… we all crammed in and I got to know the other people in the Flyer tent on a very up-close-and-personal basis. To make it even worse, the beer ran out around that time. Stayed under the tent for 45 minutes, then the rain broke and I made a dash for home. Of course, it started raining again before I got there, and once again I got soaked thanks to Music Fest. I decided not to hit the Rooster to catch Kings of the Delta; I was exhausted and just wanted some sleep. For the first time in weeks, I got a full eight hours of sober sleep. I feel great this morning.
Plans for today: Wander around and people watch 10-noon; Saucer noon-2; Music Fest 2-10; private party in the South Main area 10-3; and there may be an additional stop after that since Raiford’s is on the way home. The Saucer normally wouldn’t even be on the agenda today, but they hired back some of my favorite waitresses from the past to cover Music Fest weekend. I got to dance with Darbi to the Dempseys one more time Thursday night.
Time to go get the “wander around and people watch” part of the day started. I may wander in the shops on Beale and see if I can find any sunglasses. I’ve never been one to go to Sunglass Hut and spend $150 on a pair of sunglasses; I’d rather have several cheap $10 pairs that match whatever clothes I have on. I may also stop by A. Schwab and see if I can find anything to wear to the Saucer’s Pajama Jam next Friday night.