Paul Ryburn's Journal

My favorite band THE DEMPSEYS return to my favorite bar tonight at 9:30. It’s been almost three months since I last saw one of their shows, probably a record long time since I met them four years ago. As of right now I have no plans for tomorrow morning, so I’ll likely last all the way through their third set, which they usually wrap up about 1:30 AM. After that I’ll head home, although it’s possible I may detour into EP’s for one beer.

So yesterday I did a post that pretty much listed every place I’ll be for the next week. Then later in the day I found out that my stalker and her little sidekick have been reading my blog. Oh goody. I sure made it easy for her. I may need to hire a bodyguard.

Job hunting this week has been an experience. Had an interview Tuesday afternoon, and as I was getting ready I discovered that I had forgotten how to tie a tie. Thank goodness for Internet access… I found a tutorial that walked me through it.

Then there was the question of what to do with my hair. I’ve grown it out extra long as part of my Halloween costume, but it’s really longer than I would like it for job interviews. I tried tying it in a ponytail, but that just looked stupid. I tried slicking it back, but then it looked like I had a mullet. Finally I got something decent out of it and headed out the door. But I had to get gas and the wind and rain undid my handiwork. I tried to comb it in the bathroom but not much success… the final product made me think, if I bleached it blond I’d look like Ric Flair circa 1988. Whooooo! Oh well. If a company gets its panties all in a wad about hair it probably isn’t a place I’d want to work anyway.

So I had interviews in East Memphis Tuesday and Collierville Wednesday. Collierville sure is a long drive from Downtown. I have a phone interview for a job today that sounds absolutely awesome… hope that one works out. I’m also meeting a friend at the Fish on Monday to discuss some opportunities. So things are looking good, and I still have money left over from consulting to keep me going strong.

Back to the Saucer, because I can’t do a blog post without mentioning it 10 bazillion times. I previously mentioned that the best Beer Goddess ever to walk through the door will be back this weekend. I talked to her and found out she won’t be there Friday night – she’s going to my apartment building’s party and then possibly Raiford’s – but she will definitely be at the Saucer Saturday night, serving beer in a miniskirt. I know a lot of people are looking forward to seeing her again.

I’ll wrap up this post with a link to Ophelia Ford’s noted quotes. Our state senator, ladies and gentlemen. Outta here for now.

Received info about a few more Halloween parties Downtown and wanted to pass on the details.

– Saturday the 27th there will be a party at Itta Bena, on the 3rd floor of BB King’s on Beale, to benefit Methodist Healthcare Foundation and The Med’s sickle cell research program. Minimum $20 donation. Starts at 10, light hors d’ouevres 10 to 11. VIP tables are available, call 258-0777 for more info.

– On Halloween night Big Foot Lodge will host its 3rd annual Big Foot Halloween Bash from 9 to 3. SNAP 94.1 in the house, costume contest with $300 to the winner and huge prizes for 2nd and 3rd, $2 34 oz. Big Foot Coors Lights. Unlike other bars and clubs that jack their entry fee to the moon for Halloween party weekend, there is NO COVER at Big Foot. I’ve said it before and will say it again – you can always count on Big Foot to throw some of the best parties Downtown has ever seen.

– Earnestine & Hazel’s will host the 22nd annual Hell On Earth party Halloween night. Spend a rock n’ roll Halloween with the Subteens, Dan Montgomery, Johnny Lowebow, and many others. If you just want to rock out and don’t want to deal with a crowded nightclub atmosphere that night, this may be the choice for you.

So, here’s a summary of what I know that is going on each night. In parentheses I’ve listed the likelihood that I’ll be at each of these parties.

Friday

Private party at apartment building (definitely)
Club Atlas inside Jillian’s (no)
Hollywood Disco aka Raiford’s (probably)

Saturday

Flying Saucer (definitely)
Dan McGuinness (most probably)
Itta Bena (wish I could, but don’t have time)
Raiford’s (maybe)
Mpact Memphis/Arthritis Foundation Bone Bash at the New Daisy (no)

Wednesday

Big Foot Lodge (definitely)
EP Delta Kitchen (probably)
Hell on Earth at Earnestine & Hazel’s (no)
Will most likely also make an appearance at the Saucer even though it isn’t their party night.

How Hangovers Work

As most of you know, I’ve been telecommuting the last few months, taking web design projects on a contract basis. Last week I mentioned that the projects have been drying up, and it may be time for me to get back into the world of full-time employment. Today it occurred to me that I ought to use the biggest networking tool/advantage I have – this blog – to job-hunt. So, if you don’t mind, please take a minute to read the description below, and if you know of anything that sounds right for me, please e-mail me at paul@paulryburn.com and let me know. Thanks, I appreciate it.

– For the past three years I’ve been developing websites in ASP.NET/VB.NET with a SQL Server backend (and Access for a few smaller projects). I’ve worked with Visual Studio and both SQL Server 2000 and 2005. I have written DTS packages for SQL Server in the past to run scheduled jobs and to import data from other sources.

– I have also done sites in PHP/MySQL on a consulting basis and for myself as affiliate marketing sites. Although I’ve worked primarily with ASP.NET professionally the past three years, PHP is more or less a similar concept, different syntax, and I’m sure I could handle professional PHP development quite nicely as well.

– At past jobs I’ve been praised for outstanding communication with non-technical clients, and for good documentation. Part of this is because I taught at the U of M for five years (computer literacy and math) and got used to talking to people who don’t have an expert level of understanding.

– I tend to think I write well. Other people apparently do too, as this blog won the Memphis Flyer’s Best Blog award for 2007.

– In the early part of the decade I took an inventor’s idea and programmed it as a stand-alone application using Visual Basic 6. Took it from a prototype idea in Excel to a complete software program, including documentation via Help files and training manuals, and creating a custom installer.

– I know enough graphic design to get by and make a website attractive, but it’s not my strongest point. So if a position has graphic design as its #1 duty, I’m probably not a good fit for that one.

– Although I’m wild and crazy and speak my mind freely when I’m writing this blog, at work I’m a complete professional, and always keep in mind that when I’m there I’m representing the company I work/contract for. Actually, I consider the “blogger” side of me an advantage, as it shows that I’m more well-rounded than the typical programmer/computer guy.

– If education matters, I have a Master of Science in Computer Science (actually Mathematical Sciences, but all 34 hours were in Computer Science courses) from the University of Memphis, and a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science/Mathematics from Rhodes.

So there you have it. You can check my resume for more details on my work history. I’m open to anything – permanent, long-term contracts, or short-term projects that you may have. I’ve been primarily looking for ASP.NET or PHP web development work, but if you know of other opportunities where my creative talent would be a good fit, I’d be happy to consider those as well. Again, thanks.

Mpact Memphis will celebrate its 6th birthday Thursday night, October 25, at 6 PM at the Monarch at 5400 Park. The event will be held in the common area and poolside patio, and Mpact will provide complimentary beer, wine, and hors d’ouevres.

They’ll also unveil their Mpact Maker awards, where they honor members of the community in Mpact’s age range who have made a difference.

Free for Mpact members, $5 for non-members. They’re requiring members to show their membership card at events now, so be sure to bring yours. More info at Mpact’s website.

Yesterday I saw a lot of special task force police cars and Secret Service cars heading down Second toward the Civil Rights Museum, and this morning as I made my walk to Walgreens they had Madison blocked off in front of the Madison Hotel.

Here’s what’s going on: The president of Liberia is in town. Liberia’s president is a woman, by the way. Wow, a little country on the west coast of Africa is more progressive in that respect than the U.S. Hopefully we’ll catch up in 2009.

I heard a rumor that if you eat lunch at McGuinness on Mondays, and you dress in a red polo or light gray polo, black slacks, black belt, black socks, and black shoes – please note that they have to be POLISHABLE shoes, that’s very important – you’ll get 30% off your bill.

Why? Because Monday is Uniform Monday at AutoZone, whose headquarters are a couple of blocks away. The outfit I described above is the corporate uniform, so if you go in McG wearing that attire they’ll assume you work at AutoZone and give you the company discount.

RiverArtsFest, the new arts festival on South Main that will replace both the South Main Arts Festival and Arts in the Park, needs volunteers. An application and more info can be found here. The fest happens this weekend, Friday from 6 to 9 and Saturday and Sunday from 10 to 6. Please show your support if you can, either as a volunteer or a patron. This looks to be a signature event for Downtown for years to come and will establish Memphis as important hotspot for the arts in the South.

Missed FreeWorld by six minutes yesterday… tabbed out at the Saucer at 10:24 and decided I was too tired to continue. Dammit. Might’ve made it if something other than nasty-ass Red Hook Porter had been the fire sale.

Pint Nite tonight. Of course, I’ll be at the window playing The Window Game. We’ve added two new categories – RUP (really ugly people) and buses. Not surprisingly, RUP wins just about every day.

Will possibly move to EP’s for Monday Night Football with free chili dogs, hot wings, and meatballs at 7:30. Indianapolis at Jacksonville tonight. Go Jaguars! Kill Peyton!

In case you missed it yesterday: Arkansas 44, Ole Miss 8.

Somebody done got they ass whooped.

(Edited to add: Middle Tennessee State 24, Arkansas State 7. But there’s certainly no shame for A-State in losing to an acknowledged football powerhouse and national championship contender like MTSU. Go Indians!… or whatever you guys are calling yourselves now… heh.)

I’m gonna be on TV! The new episode of Definitely Downtown, to air next Sunday, October 28 at 11:05 PM on ABC 24, features a segment about my friend Robin’s condo. Robin lives in Barton Flats and has a beautiful view of the river. A big part of her life Downtown is hanging out with her friends, so she asked about 8 of us to meet on her rooftop for wine and snacks so the TV show could document that part of her life. After the camera crew took off, none of us wanted to leave! It was a gorgeous 80 degree day and we had great company and a great view of the river.

As a result, I didn’t make it to the Saucer until almost 6:30 PM, which for a Saturday is probably a record late appearance, at least in recent times. Two friends of mine tried to get me to go see the Black Crowes on Mud Island – “They’ll rock your face off!” – but it’s been a long week of staying out late, and I just didn’t think I had enough gas in the tank.

They left, and I was joined by my friends Mikey, The Nuh-Uh Girl, Frank, and Ken. My initial plan was to have a beer or two then leave, but when I found out what band was playing – Aquanet – I knew I had to stay. Aquanet is the ’80s hair band cover band that plays the Saucer about once a month, and they are awesome. They have two requirements for songs they play – the songs have to be from the ’80s, and the band singing them has to have long hair. So we got plenty of Motley Crue, Ratt, Poison, Bon Jovi, G’n’R, and lots of stuff like that. They did make one exception to the long hair rule, to play a Billy Idol song, which is a good exception to make.

They were even better than I remember. I’m about to give them the highest compliment I possibly can – they are as good as The Dempseys, although in a completely different genre of music. And they packed the place out like no other band ever has – not even the Dempseys. It was standing room only and packed like sardines. And there were GIRLS there! The male/female ratio was 50/50, much better than a typical night at the Saucer. They pulled one of the benches back to create a dance floor, and the Nuh-Uh Girl and I went out and danced to several songs, appropriate because we both totally have the hair to rock out to ’80s hair band music. Outside the window a big crowd of locals, tourists and a bum or two gathered to watch the show.

After the end of the first set we all tabbed out and most of the gang went home. “I don’t want to leave yet! They’re too good!” said the Nuh-Uh Girl. So we reopened our tab and lasted midway into the second set, at which point hunger and drunkenness finally won out.

Aquanet’s website says they’ll be at the Hard Rock on Halloween night. Wish I could see them again, but there’s no way I’ll make it to that one. It also mentions a Flying Saucer appearance on November 3, but I checked the calendars of both the Downtown and East Bumblefuck Saucers and didn’t see their name for that night.

However, I did see The Dempseys on the calendar for the Downtown Saucer for this Thursday, October 25, so you know where I’ll be. Then again, that’s most like where I’d be even if The Dempseys weren’t playing.

I still wish the Saucer would do my “buy the beer, keep the waitress” idea. I ran this by my friend Wayne and he said, “Yeah, but they’d run out of waitresses quickly. Then they’d have to import some more of your Romanians.” I like Wayne’s thinking there.

So now it’s Sunday morning and I just made my morning run to Jack’s to buy caffeine and a newspaper. One of the bums tried to sell me weed on my walk down there.

Today is our second of two weeks doing brunch at McGuinness, then next Sunday we’ll be back at the Majestic. This time I think I may actually be hungry enough to do the Irish breakfast, a big platter featuring imported Irish meats. My friend Lee tried it last Sunday and it looked really good. After that it’ll be time to go to the Saucer, sit at the window and watch bums, and watch Pete and Clay play pool to try and determine who is the second best pool player in our group, after me of course. I am NOT going to tire out by 5 like I did last Sunday. NO SHOTS. This time I’m going to try to go the distance and make it to Blues City for FreeWorld at 10:30. Not sure that will happen – for reasons I won’t get into I didn’t get to sleep until 3 last night, so I’m once again tired today – but I’m damn sure gonna try. This is likely one of the last Sundays when I won’t have to be somewhere the following morning, and I want to take advantage of my freedom.

Sometimes I mean to go to FreeWorld on Sunday and end up switching to Plan B… hang at the Saucer ’til 9:15 then stumble over to Wang’s for Paul’s Drunkass Food to take home. I think the big Irish breakfast will be able to curb my cravings for Chinese food in the evening this time.

Song currently stuck in my head: “Shot through the heart, and you’re to blame… you give love a bad name.” Thanks Aquanet for that.