Today was the Beta Manufacturing day.. We invited folks from all over Vermont to come in and learn about the manufacturing jobs we’re hiring for.. I helped by manning (personing ?) our carbon fiber assembly displays. I got to speak. to so many cool and talented people.
We had those and several of our other demo displays.. It was nice seeing them all together.
If you are out there reading this and either you or someone you know is interested in applying for one of our composite assembly jobs, please reach out to me and I’ll tell you haw to apply !
The temperatures are starting to hit the 60s outside so it was time for the spring ritual of taking down the storm windows. Usually that means 6 outside storms (ancient 6 over 6 wooden storms about 7 feet x 3.5 feet) and 8 interior storms (each a single 7 x3.5 pane of glass) Though it’s not an easy job.. it’s satisfying to get done.. and it’s SO nice to be able to open the windows and get fresh air inside !
We worked around the house today.. then early evening we had a small potluck of some of our Fluffy teammates to plan for this years maintenance and extensions. Several key members were out of town rebar, stein, Marie.. they were missed .. We did have Duane, Coco, Amey, Gizzo, Wiki and Kristin ! We made good progress. What is on the list for this year is
dialing in the over pressure switch on the fire rig,
exploring the swap out of the 200 gallon propane tank
exploring a scheme for allowing at least some of the dance poll rigging to stay up when fluffy is in town doing local stuff
a paint job for the clouds
a rethink on the wiring for the lights on the handicap access door to make it easier to open
New cloud lighting for the front and back.
That’s still a lot of work.. but hopefully much less than the last two years. Good discussion and nice hanging out with our friends. Duane brought the Duaneswhirld book for 2024 .Laura makes one for him every year ! I don’t think I’ve been in one since 2009 due to my usual short trips to the playa
First of all.. I want to wish my leeeeetle seeeeester SPG (aka Mary) a very happy birthday.
Tonight we went with Jen and Tim out to Instabul House for an early Turkish dinner before a show at the Flynn Space
I love Instabul House.. because it reminds me of Living with the Erol’s in Vienna in 1979-80. The dad, Necat Erol ws from Turkey.. and they always had great Turkish food.. One of my favorites was Cacık, a cold cumber soup a little like Tziziki I t brought back great memories when I ordered it tonight !
We walked over to the Flynn space.. which is a really nice small venue under the Flynn Theatre. Tonights show was called “Trouble and Together”.. it was organized by my old friend Jim.. Jim and I are long time members of VoMIT (Vermonts own MIT club).. He’d invited us.. but I really didn’t know much about what we were here to watch.
It turns out that it was a wonderful musical review that Jim put on with 6 (I think) friends… (I mean I think they were 6.. they were definitely friends !) Jim played base .. and long time acquaintance Paul A played lead guitar .. there was also a keyboards, drummer, procussionist.. and an amazingg fretless bassist. They were joined by the ‘crackwall choir’ which was made up of Jim’s wife Abby and their daughters Hannah and Phoebe. Jim explained that the shows tile “trouble and together” was about the trials and joys of living.. The group had had an saxaphist named Joe.. but Joe died recently.. seems like only months ago… Though not officially, this show was dedicated to him .
The evening took us through old rock/blues.. some jazz and some folk.. I remember a Frank Zappa cover, a Moby grape cover a Joni Mitchel cover (coyote) , a John print cover (Lovely and Dead) and a great cover of the Nick Lowe song (made more famous by Elvis Costello) “What’s so funny about Peace Love and understanding”
The show was great fun and wonderfully curated.. The band sounded great.. even my watch said so !
Ran into several old friends there, Jeff, Biz, Michelle, David…
Super fun evening.. and great being out with Tim and Jen !
Tonight we had a real treat. Our friend Averie was playing a show iat FireFolk n Waitsfield along with her old UVM roommate Blair Borax and traveling musician Bethany Ann Tranbaugh . Blair and Bethany are touring the east coast and they met up with Avery for the first show. It was a very cool building.. lots of interesting art and botanical cocktails. Very vermont ! Lots of friends there, Averys parents, Jane, Joe and Morgan,
The evening opened with an original poem by Harmony (whom I just found out is the youth poet laureate for the state of vermont)
Avery was up first.. playing original songs..with a clear voice, great energy and .. I’d never seen her play solo before and she was wonderful !!! As I watched her play I was thinking about how she and Jane Keir (also in the audience) play “Keepsake” but State Radio at Sam’s memorial. She was only 14 then.. so was Sam. I still listen to it sometimes.. Har do believe that was 17 years ago). You can listen to it here .. or below.. Always makes me cry to hear it.. .. (just did)
Then up was Bethany. she labeled herself as ‘queer americana’.. She was super fun.. Great lyricist and great guitarist.. You can check out some of her stuff here.
Then Bair Borax came up.. she was also a great songwriter. She had been Avery’s college roommate about 10 years ago.. at the time she couldn’t sing or play guitar.. now she does both really well. We loved hearing her too ! Check out her stuff here
