Yesterday was scheduled to be the main load-in day for the BBQ team. Now, as I’m sure you all know, there is nothing I love more than getting covered in mud and sweat building our team booth. However, yesterday I was not allowed to. “Paul, you know that it is absolutely vital that we leave one team member behind at the Flying Saucer to hold down the fort and handle anything that comes up there,” the team captains told me. “You’re the mayor of the Saucer on Foursquare and you have experience in this role. Please please PLEASE put the team ahead of yourself and do this for us.”
As much as I wanted to be at the park, I knew they were right. I stayed behind and entered into negotiations with beverage consultant Sara. “Dos Equis Lager is on the menu for $4.75,” I told her. “Is there ANY way we can knock the price down a little?” Sara thought about it and gave it to me for only $3. Based on her tone, I got the feeling that if I’d waited even one more day to take care of this, I would not have been able to make this deal. About an hour after I got there, three teammates arrived to help me hold down the fort and they got the deal too. In fact, everyone in the bar seemed to be getting the deal. Glad I could lay the groundwork.
Later in the day, I showed support for the Memphis Grizzlies on behalf of the BBQ team by watching the Saucer girls hang blue and yellow balloons that read, “Believe Memphis” and “Grit-n-Grind.” Of course, the Grizzlies went on to win last night in overtime, and if I contributed to that victory in some small way through the support I showed, I am happy to have done so.
Manager Ollie, who was back at the Saucer after having been gone a couple of years, didn’t seem to understand my role. “Holding down the fort?” he asked. “What does that involve? It sounds like you’re just standing around here drinking all day and avoiding work.” People who aren’t on BBQ teams simply have no idea what all is involved to make things happen. Different team members contribute in different ways.
Unfortunately I didn’t get all my work done yesterday. I finished the day at our sponsor, the Blind Bear, where I sampled the PBR to make sure it is fit for consumption in the team booth. After seven 16-ounce samples I still had not made up my mind. I will have to go back there and put some more time in today.
A team email went out last night that we got the hard part of the booth’s facade done yesterday, but there are a lot of tent items to be delivered and they really need everybody in the park between 10 and noon. They didn’t even mention me holding down the fort again today, but I guess they assume that I will handle it. They’re starting to take me for granted.
Okay, let’s get on to the news. There’s a new food truck in Memphis called Hunger Monkey. The owner plans to provide healthy alternatives for vegetarians, vegans, and those following the paleo diet. Hmmm it doesn’t sound like I’ll be spending much money at this truck. Food truck diversity is a good thing though, so I’m glad it’s up and running.
Soccer fans: The Brass Door will show the Arsenal vs. Wigan Athletic game today at 1:45.
Game 5 of Grizzlies-Thunder will be on TNT at 8:30 Central time Wednesday. Since that’s Friends & Family Night at BBQ Fest, I won’t be able to watch it at the Blind Bear as usual.
The state of Tennessee is zeroing in on office space Downtown to replace the space they are vacating. They are leaving the Hill Building in Civic Center Plaza.
Historian Jimmy Ogle is conducting one of his famous manhole cover tours today at 11:45. That sounds weird but I hear those tours are very interesting and you learn a ton about the history of the city in a most unique way. Free. Tour starts at the Cotton Museum.
Taking a quick look at Foursquare. Our team vice-president checked in a few minutes ago and commented “going to be another long-ass day.” I “Liked” his comment to show my support for all the hard work he will do at Tom Lee Park today. By the way, the booth was wrongly marked as “The Moody Ques S-214” on Foursquare. That’s last year’s number. I used my superuser powers to change it to “The Moody Ques S-215.” Just another thing I do to add value to the BBQ team. If it were left as S-214 people might not be able to find the correct location of the booth.
All right. Time to go accomplish stuff. If there’s more news I’ll make a second post.