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Day 259 - Feb 6 - Home

Starbucks, Magnolia and Vine. My morning office that satisfies the the requirements of hot coffee, edible food and a constant flow of humans reminiscent of trying to work in the crew room or catering. Fifth day home and the first day the tour haze begins to lift and the realities of this other world come into focus. Fifth day at home and for every morning I wake up and realize how cool it is that a housekeeper has not tapped on my door every 15 minutes for the past 3 hours, I am equally dismayed that the mess I left here yesterday is still where I left it and once again there are no clean towels. If I only had a phone in my room I would call the front desk to complain.

I spend the bulk of my home-time solo, at least solo as in "not in the proximity of the humans I speak with other than buying things like food." The exception being the two or three days a week I go in to the Rat office or the weekends that I have the girls. I spend most of my tour time surrounded by huge quantities of people I know quite well with the exceptions being the mornings of days off before the quest for coffee inspires me out of my hotel room. My two lives could not be much more different. I think the term used in describing these transitions is culture shock, when applied to normal humans.

I guess working at Starbucks is just my little version of Cargo Cult Science as if hanging out at home around bustling humans will somehow inspire the tour bus to show up. If you have not read it, it is worth a look look, if you have read it, well, it's is still worth a look. Richard Feynman would have made an excellent roadie.

Perfection is unachievable and on projects that I put my heart into, mediocrity is unacceptable. Combining that thought with the project of the big rock show and the fact that my sound world is but one facet of a multi-dimensional presentation results in a complex balancing act that is far from boring. Pushing for the best but not to the point that it will overly compromise another department's presentation, requires a level of cooperation, understanding and the ability for all involved to look at the bigger picture. I guess that applies to just about every cooperative life endeavor.

OK, my newly implemented morning work/blog time limit is and the fully charged laptop battery is reaching red line warnings. Upload time and oh, hey, tomorrow we load into the Grammy's!

The shaky hands, 20 oz drip coffee buzzed

Dave Rat

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Sama on :

So tomorrow is the Grammy's? Great. How do you deal on this situation? Cause there are a few artists doing their numbers. Do you have to share your setup with other artists/roadies? Good luck. Sama.

Dave Rat on :

Nothing but Peppers for me. The sound company, ATK will deal with all the other bands.

Garrett West on :

Hey Dave, I love your blog and all the great humor in it. Good luck on the Grammys, Will you take some behind the scenes pics at the Grammys for the rest of us. GOD BLESS COFFEE!!!!!!! The Tigers at FOH are great but remember they can bite and your future in magic could be ruined. Garrett West

Dave Rat on :

Hmmmm, The Grammy's actually prohibit all photography but perhaps I can take pictures of things similar to the Grammy's that look like the Grammy's during the time frame of the Grammy's. Because you know that I would never do anything I am not supposed to do.

dan mac on :

Great blog (and I don't say that about many!), it's kept me suitably entertained for the past few months - but I've got to call you up on one thing: Starbucks? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Psuedo bohemian corporate scum - there must be somewhere better just round the corner or have they already put them out of business. ;) http://www.ofb.net/~epstein/sl/0412/20041210-starbucks.jpg (contains swearingly altered merchandise.)

Janine on :

Hi again Dave, Was just wondering if you similarly will be coming with the band back over to England for the Brits? Would be great if you are! I think I've managed to swing a couple of tickets for my friend and I- so would be great to come say hello to you :) Take care Janine x

Dave Rat on :

Yep, I fly monday, arrive London tuesday, show wednesday and fly home thursday. Wow wow wee wow!

Janine on :

"Wow wow wee wow!" Indeed! Makes me tired just thinking about it!... It's no wonder you need copious amounts of coffee! Hopefully we'll see you there then :) (and hopefully AFTER you've drunk your coffee!!) x

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