CamelsbackandForth: off-roading

I had two job interviews on Saturday. If I accept them both, clone myself and simultaneously work at both locations I can earn a combined sum of fourteen dollars an hour. The two positions are at two affiliated record stores, one of which is managed by a friend that I wouldn't mind working for- if I could survive on eight bucks an hour. I can't. He said I would be a great asset to the business, but offering me less than a living wage is a bit insulting and it left me feeling sour.

The other store offered me six dollars an hour.

Six dollars is what I made at my first 'real' job (dishwasher) twenty- four years ago. Things are considerably more expensive in 2007 than they were in 1984 and I think my next salary should take that into account. I was speechless when I heard "six" but I'm sure my expression spoke for me, daggers and scowls is all I had by way of reply. The manager told me that everyone wanted to work there ( is everyone an aggressively pierced poseur kid who lives at home and thinks working in a record store will launch their indie rock career?) and that experience wasn't really what they were looking for, contrary to what I had been told the previous night.

Twice in one afternoon I was told that I am worthless. Saturday sucked.

Saturday night was...fodder for a later post.

Sunday was much better. First, there was my weekly radio show:

XTC- Dying/Sacrificial Bonfire
Alan Parsons Project- Don't Let It Show
Eleanor McCovey- Whisper & Prayer
Billie Holliday- Don't Explain
Cat Stevens- Life
Steeleye Span- The Blacksmith
John Prine- Grandpa Was A Carpenter
Loreena McKinnett- All Souls Night
Marianne Faithfull- Guilt
Atomic Rooster- Stand By Me
Chieftains & co.- Millenium Celtic Suite
Jefferson Airplane- Thunk
Eleni Mandell- Man In The Paper Hat
Pentangle- Night Flight
Mitch H. Price- Love Roller Coaster
Moody Blues- Ride My See Saw
Faces- Stay With Me
Pretty Things- The Sun
Stranglers- Ships That Pass In The Night
Fred Frith- Balance
The Kinks- You Don't Know My Name
Ray Davies' younger brother wrote and sings the lead on this song. Ray's brother's name is Dave. My name is not Dave.

Emerson, Lake and Palmer- Still You Turn Me On
Claanad- Love and Affection
Fairport Convention- The Way I Feel
Bruce Cockburn- The Strong One
Neil Young- Looking For A Leader
Clash- Lost In The Supermarket
Roy Buchanan- Tribute To Elmore James
Anuna- Peperit Virgo

Afterwards, my maternal uncle took the Twin and I to see his property in the country.
It's beautiful and the work he's done is amazing. There's an extensive bull-dozed maze of roads designed for motorbikes and ATVs; there are hills, loops, mud jumps, all perfectly suited for raising off-road hell- I knew my uncle was good at building things, but I didn't know he'd built an entire universe in the middle of nowhere. He rocks!

This is where my uncle is going to build his house.

The Twin is smarter than me. He wore a helmet.

I was scared at first. I figured I'd hit a tree and split my head open. I was half-right.
Vroom! Bam! I hit a tree after 10 seconds. Nothing hurt but my pride, though. I rode for hours without mishap, really grooving on the speed, sounds and sights.
Before we left I was jumping the mudpit, all four wheels in the air- man-what a thrill! I'll be sore tomorrow, but it'll be worth it.

My uncle rode his bike and led us on a scenic backwoods trip that wound up down at the river.