#versatile skill sets

I took a central seat in the museum lobby where this Invisibilia event was held yesterday evening.  I’d polished off a few gin and tonics with my older sister before grabbing my notepad and heading over solo. “I feel overdressed” I heard a woman say behind me, I turned to smile and comment that she looked lovely in her dress and that these were my dress clothes as a working carpenter.  She warmed up, and her husband did too.  “thank you! This is kind of celebrating our thirteenth wedding anniversary..”  I illuminate and commend their taste in celebrating.  They were coming in from out of town as well, and indulged my spiel about how I could see my doula skills translating into work as a general contractor: “listen, I know this is a difficult transition for everyone right now…”  I didn’t know if Alix and Lulu would be on the panel or not, they weren’t.   But there was a young and charming associate producer leading the discussion and she skyped in Hanna Rossin.  I was somewhat surprised to be one of the only folks in the crowd taking notes.  Looking back, it was an ideal date with myself alone.  I didn’t have to worry about embarrassing any companions as I piped up during the question periods. -In flyover country, I’m gonna fucking wring out these radio geek opportunities for all they’re worth.  Hell, I’m gonna wring things out wherever.

As the panel wrapped and guests trickled out onto the street I stuck around to complement the young producer and thank her for visiting, she asked if I was a journalist! I ate it up, and grinned saying that ‘no, I’m a carpenter who is very enamored with radio.’ I should’ve reeled it in there but I couldn’t help my puppy dog ways letting enthusiasm take hold and continued to mention the storytelling workshop I’ve got my eyes on, rambling about the field recorder I’ve got and still need to put more miles on and then she said I should come to an event tomorrow, that this is a great city and while she doesn’t live here I would be linked up with some of the people involved in the local public radio mix.