The last four months have had a severe impact on how (and possibly if) Americans work, but we're doing the best we can. This week on Stuck In Thee Garage, I played songs about working in hour 2.
This playlist really doesn't want to deal with customer complaints:
Hour 1 Artist - Song/Album
Bob Mould - Forecast of Rain/Blue Hearts
Archers of Loaf - Cruel Reminder/Single
The Beths - I'm Not Getting Excited/Jump Rope Gazers
Fake Names - Driver/Fake Names
Cloud Nothings - The Sound of Everyone/The Black Hole Understands
Pottery - Take Your Time/Welcome to Bobby's Motel
Houses of Heaven - Sleep/Silent Places
Flock of Dimes - Like So Much Desire/Like So Much Desire EP
Twin Peaks - Any More Than You Want/Side A
Ty Segall & Cory Hanson - Milk Bird Flyer/She's a Beam
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Be Afraid/Reunions
Savak - Checked Out/The Point of the Point
Wylde Ratttz - Hollow/Wylde Ratttz
The Stairs - I Wanna Be Your Man/Titles Are Important
Peel Dream Magazine - Dialectrics/Moral Panics EP
No Age - Turned to String/Goons Be Gone
Jeff Rosenstock - Leave It In the Sun/NO DREAM
Hour 2: Working
R.E.M. - Finest Worksong/Document
The Tragically Hip - My Music At Work/Music@Work
The Ocean Blue - The Office of a Working Man/The Ocean Blue
Songs: Ohia - Love and Work/Axxess & Ace
Elvis Costello - Welcome to the Working Week/My Aim Is True
The Who - Bell Boy/Quadrophenia
John Lennon - Working Class Hero/Plastic Ono Band
Piebald - Our Very Own Employment Office/When Life Hands You Lemons
Hard Left - Strike For America/Single
Halfsour - Employees Must Wash Hands/Tuesday Night Live
Big Heet - Failure at Work/On a Wire
Prince - Let's Work/Controversy
Beastie Boys - Funky Boss/Check Your Head
Joe Jackson - Friday/I'm the Man
The Replacements - God Damn Job/For Sale: Live at Maxwell's 1986
Drive-By Truckers - This Fucking Job/The Big To-Do
Superchunk - Slack Motherfucker/Superchunk
Part 2 of my conversation with guest Mike Heyliger as we discuss the trials and tribulations of moving. Listen to the episode below or download directly (right click and "save as").
Show notes: - Check out Mike's blog Popblerd and his podcast Blerd Radio - Jay: Haven't moved since 2000, but moved a lot in the '80s and '90s - TVs used to be a lot bigger and heavier - People used to always move around September 1 - Jay: Used to borrow the newspaper delivery van for moves - Mike: Upcoming move back to New York will be like going to a different place - Narrowed list down to a handful of cities to settle down in - Mike: Currently conveniently located near Boston-area clubs - Watertown is a quiet community, but Boston Marathon bomber was caught there - Tough times for journalism majors - Mike: Took a while to get used to earlier Boston closing times - It's easier to stay out super late when you're younger - Drunken work parties are always interesting - You don't want to be the drunk one - Alcohol-fueled fun can lead to awkwardness at work - Mike: Been working from home for several years - Looking forward to separating work from home life - It's tough being the person on the other end of the speaker phone - Mike: New office will have an open floor plan - You have to be conscious of people around you in an open office
Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!
The
opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big
F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his
fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.
I found myself thinking about the '90s quite a bit in the last week or so for various reasons. The whole thing started on September 18, which marked the 20th anniversary of my start date at my current employer. I had just finished six years at the Peabody-Beverly Times/Salem News and was pretty burned out by the whole newspaper lifestyle. If a couple of chips had fallen differently, I would have stuck with reporting but it was becoming apparent that I needed to move on. I was the 45th employee at a small trade publishing company called Opus Communications and was immediately dispatched to Pittsburgh to cover a conference of medical staff services professionals. It took a while to get settled in, both to get a grasp of the not-always-exciting subject matter and to get used to sitting at a desk all day.
I lasted four years there before moving on to Webnoize, a dotcom started by a friend of mine; I had a fun two years at that company before it and the Internet bubble in general ran out of money. I went back to my old company, then called HCPro, in November 2001 and I've been there ever since. Granted, the company has changed owners about four times since then, growing to a max of about 300 employees. Two years ago, things were a little touch and go before we were bought by another publisher. The company's fortunes have improved since the sale and things are pretty stable, which is nice. Still, it's crazy to think I was almost 28 when I started there. So many people have come and gone over that time, as you can imagine. And I've had many changes in my life as well, the most important of which are getting married and having kids.
Spending 20 years with one employer used to be no big deal a few generations ago. But in the last 10-15 years, people have become accustomed to jumping around a lot more from job to job, looking for better pay or status or both. There were definitely times when I was desperate to leave, especially during times of serious instability in 2008 and 2012, but for whatever reason I stuck it out. Part of it was having a 10-minute commute and a lot of flexibility, the kind I wouldn't have if I was working somewhere closer to Boston. And it really does, as I've told many people, feel like I've worked for four or five different companies because of the different owners and different situations.
My work anniversary is always closely tied to my birthday because the latter is three days after the former. Monday marked my 48th, which is pretty nuts. I veer from feeling every one of those years when my various ailments (sore heels, sore back, etc.) act up, but then I think about what my father was like at 48--overweight, sedentary, depressed, alcoholic--and compare it to what I'm doing and I realize that his 48 seemed a hell of a lot older than mine. I'm no Peter Pan; there's no midlife crisis here. I just refuse to accept that just because I'm "middle aged," that means I should stop going to rock shows, playing sports, and doing all the other shit I've been doing the last umpteen years. Yeah, the hair's a lot grayer now, but I'm not ready to be put out to pasture just yet.
You know what makes me feel old? Seeing the kids of people I worked with when I started my career getting married and generally being all adult and stuff. Also, the Milwaukee Brewers just named their new general manager, David Stearns, who was born the year I graduated from high school. Now THAT'S some sobering shit right there.
The other flashback-inducing event in my life has been the incredible run made by the Toronto Blue Jays over the last two months. When the Jays traded for Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki on July 29, they were a thoroughly mediocre 50-51. A day later, they acquired pitcher David Price from Detroit, giving them their first bona fide #1 pitcher since the mighty Roy Halladay left town after the 2009 season. The Jays already had a tremendous offensive club, but Price stabilized the pitching staff and Tulowitzki provided shutdown defense; a few other acquisitions filled various holes and the team went on a tear for the ages. They caught the division-leading Yankees within two weeks and have been battling them for the division lead, which Toronto now has by 4 games with 9 to play. The magic number is 4 for the division title; they've already clinched a playoff spot.
While this is no big deal for fans in many cities, the Jays haven't been to the postseason since 1993. Which is two years before I started at my current workplace 20 years ago. At the time, the Jays went on to win their second World Series in a row, capping off a decade of strong contending teams. In 1994, the Jays were sitting at 55-60 on August 12 when the players went on strike and the season was ended. And in the years that followed (before this one), they never seriously contended for even a wild card spot. Blame it on ownership not spending the money, big acquisitions not panning out, whatever, the Jays became a mediocre small market team instead of the contending large market team they had been previously. Sure, I took the winning for granted between '85 and '93, but I can't believe it's been so long in the desert. It has been a depressing time, especially watching teams like the Red Sox, Yankees and Rays dominate the AL East. But all that's in the past, as this year's team has roared to a 90-65 record as of this writing, the highest win total since '93. Not only are they close to clinching the division, getting the best record in the AL (thereby giving them home field advantage through the playoffs) is within their reach; they're currently tied with Kansas City.
This Jays team has renewed my interest and passion for baseball, which had waned in recent years. I'm as obsessed with it as I ever have been. My greatest sports moments have been the Jays' two World Series wins in '92 and '93, followed by the Patriots' four Super Bowl wins. The Maple Leafs have been a perennial disappointment my entire life, with occasional flourishes of hope mixed in. They're currently at the beginning of a rebuilding plan, so there are no championships on the immediate horizon. But at least I've finally got something to root for in October. No more wallowing in the past. I'm fully engaged in the present. Go Jays!
Part 2
of my conversation with guest Brian Lewandowski as we discuss working, childhood homes and corporal punishment. Listen to the episode below or download directly (right click and "save as").
Show notes: - Brian: Writing for a prepper show called America Unplugged - Getting your news from Pat Robertson - Visiting your childhood home - Jay: Toronto suburb I once lived in tripled in size within a few years - Brian hasn't been back to Buffalo since '93 - Corporal punishment was once acceptable - Brian: Worst punishment was kneeling - Don't eat your vegetables, kids - Louis CK is doing his own thing - Brian saw Eels (without Steve Perry) - Unconventional frontmen - Jay: Never had to see the Wiggles - Dan Zanes' children's music is pretty listenable - Brian liked Raffi - The Creationism Museum looks fun - Preparing for the End Times - Great ideas come in unlikely places - Dream journals - Brian has similar dreams over and over - We worked out some issues
Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!
Music: The Afghan Whigs - Matamoros Lubec - Almost Vince Dum Dum Girls - Under These Hands
The Afghan Whigs song is on the album Do to the Beast on Sub Pop. Download the song for free from Soundcloud. The Lubec song is on the forthcoming album The Thrall. Download the song for free from Bandcamp.
The Dum Dum Girls song is on the album Too True on Sub Pop. Download the song for free from Soundcloud.
The
opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big
F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.
Part 1 of my conversation with guest Brian Lewandowski as we discuss writing for reality TV, early jobs and freelancing. Listen to the episode below or download directly (right click and "save as").
Show notes: - Brian's doing freelance work for The Sportsman's Channel - "Inhumane interest stories" - Worked on a Sarah Palin-hosted show - Writing ads for a new Penn Gillette show - Jay: Never seen It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - Tales of Brother Dave, who once had a following - Supermarket jobs - Working on the night crew - Brian's brush with a suicidal/homicidal security guard - Bill Murray's showing up in random places - When you're younger, you tend to bond more closely with co-workers - Brian's getting along with himself these days - Working from home - Brian took a break from comedy but is now writing jokes again - Back up your online work - To be continued
Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!
Music: The Vaselines - One Lost Year Jawbreaker Reunion - E.M.O. Kittyhawk - The Daily Dodger
The Vaselines song is on the album V for Vaselines on Rosary Music. Download the song for free from Soundcloud. The Jawbreaker Reunion song is on the album Lutheran Sisterhood Gun Club. Download the song for free from Bandcamp. The Kittyhawk song is on the Droughts/Framework/Kittyhawk/Prawn split. Download the song for free from Bandcamp.
The
opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big
F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.
Part 2 of my conversation with guest Brian Lewandowski as we discuss his
latest bold career move. Listen to the episode below or download directly (right click and "save as").
Show notes: - Recorded at BGL HQ - Sometimes you like the people more than the job - BL stayed home to raise his daughter for a while - Now situation is different - The time to restart is now - Is this all there is? - Pressure's on to succeed now - Trying to get disciplined - The Secret is good for finding parking spaces - Finding that elusive "dream job" - Acting is an interesting but difficult pursuit - Job misery can cause physical pain - Working overnights - The future is unwritten - BL: It's not exactly what I thought it would be
Music: She Sir - Condensedindents Protomartyr - Scum, Rise!
Red Fang - Behind the Light
Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!
The She Sir song is on the album Go Guitars on Shelflife Records. Download the song for free at Largehearted Boy.
The Protomartyr song is on the forthcoming album Under Color of Official Right on Hardly Art. Download the song for free at Stereogum.
The Red Fang song is on the album Whales and Leeches on Relapse Records. Download the song for free at Amazon MP3.
The
opening and closing theme of Completely Conspicuous is "Theme to Big
F'in Pants" by Jay Breitling. Find out more about Senor Breitling at his fine music blog Clicky Clicky. Voiceover work is courtesy of James Gralian.
Editor's note: Through the Past Dorkily is a recurring feature that looks back at the embarrassingly dorky diary I kept as a 16-year-old in 1984.
Saturday, June 9, 1984
Song of the day: The Weapon - Rush
Not much happened today. Boy, it was hot!
I finally got some good shoes for work. I felt 100% better in them. Next week I work Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 3-10 each day.
I met [cute girl from party] while I was working. We talked for a while. Jeremy said that he, his girlfriend and [cute girl from party] were going to the movies on June 22, and I was invited (if I had the car). I said sure but I hope I'm not working! I think she likes me. She's pretty nice.
[Classmate] (from French, I can't spell her last name) works at the Bucket, too.
- The Barbarian
Sunday, June 10, 1984
Song of day: Afterimage - Rush
Another sticky day, fellah. Mom slept in so we didn't go to church. I mowed the lawn and nearly sweated to death!
I did my homework and then waited till 9 for the Rush special on WAAF. I taped over the Sabbath concert I taped last year. It went over so I also used the BASF that I taped (badly) some Who albums on. The special was great!
Nighty-night.
- The Barbarian
Monday, June 11, 1984
Song of the day: The Original Sin - INXS
Another hot one.
Took French quiz, I think I did good. I got a 73 on the How to Study quiz! Yah!
Mom let me take the car to work. Got my punch card, name tag today. Went to Dairy Queen for dinner. Got stuck there till 10:30. Sheesh!
Toodaloo.
- The Barbarian
Tuesday, June 12, 1984
Song of the day: Born in the USA - Bruce Springsteen
Top 5 at Five 1. Rock You Like a Hurricane - Scorpions 2. Life Sucks, Then You Die - The Fools 3. Round and Round - Ratt 4. Legs - ZZ Top 5. Wouldn't It Be Good - Nik Kershaw
Today wasn't that great. [Teacher] moved me to the front because I dropped my pencil (You explain it!). I bombed the Algebra quiz. I just choked!
I had the day off so I took a nap. Wow.
- The (almost senior) Barbarian
Wednesday, June 13, 1984
Song of the day: State of Shock - The Jacksons (with Mick Jagger)
Today was so-so. I slept through Civics, goofed off through Geometry, and stumbled through the rest of the day. I got a 35 on that Alg. quiz. She didn't count it and we have a retake tomorrow.
I have to pick up my first paycheck tomorrow.
3 tests tomorrow.
Ugh, my feet hurt.
- The Barbarian
Thursday, June 14, 1984
Song of the day: High on Emotion - Chris Deburgh
Top 5 at Five 1. We're Not Gonna Take It - Twisted Sister 2. Life Sucks, Then You Die - The Fools 3. Round and Round - Ratt 4. The Reflex - Duran Duran 5. The Ghost in You - Psychedelic Furs
Hmm. In Civics, we were videotaped. It was wild! We were throwing stuff, yelling, running around, it was great! We get to see it next week.
The Geometry final was weird. I did good on the Bi Sci test, and alright on the Algebra thing.
I got my paycheck today. It was for $49.44. They only paid me for 17 hours, instead of 20. [Supervisor] said he'd add it on to next week's check. Great!
Tomorrow's the last actual work day of this school year! Yah!
- The Barbarian
Friday, June 15, 1984
Song of the day: Tell Me - Fastway
Weird day. I aced the Civics final. 101 out of 105. Awesome. I also did the Geometry final. I got an 88 on the Bi Sci test and a 36 (no lie) on the retake in Algebra. Luckily, she's dropping the grade! I gotnotes at lunch and I completed the How to Study quiz (all except 2 questions). And my French report went pretty good.
Last day of school work! Yah!
Went to work. What a day! I spent half the day cleaning up messes and sweeping the floors. Sheesh.
After work, at 11 (store now closes at 10), [buddy] said he was going to Friendly's and asked me if I wanted to go. I said sure, but he had to drop someone off first. I followed them to Atkinson and then turned around so I wouldn't get lost. I went to Friendly's to meet 'em there but they never showed! I didn't have any money. [Classmate] was working. I bugged her. [Another buddy] was there with a couple of friends. [Two other classmates] showed up. I bummed a buck off one of them and bought a drink. [The other guy] was telling me how he got laid 3 times tonight. Great. I left about 11:50. Got home at midnight. Not bad.
I gotta cash my check.
- The Barbarian
Postscript: The school year is winding down, while the work schedule is ramping up. I forgot that for those 3-10 shifts, we never got a dinner break. I was eating a crap fast food dinner at 10 or 11. Can't even imagine doing that now. Also, gotta love that hefty first paycheck! I was getting paid minimum wage, which in 1984 was a robust $3.35/hour. How the hell did people live on that? I guess things cost a lot less back then, but still...
Man, I would love to see that Civics video with us in it. I don't remember what the point was; I think it was to show a worst-case classroom scenario so we were encouraged to act like idiots. Not sure. Still, would be interesting to see that now.
In that situation where I was following a buddy and then got lost, nowadays it'd be easy to just call or text the person to say I'd meet them at Friendly's. Back then, you had no way to reach somebody except via payphone or landline. Cracks me up that I went to this restaurant with absolutely no money in my wallet. Man.
Editor's note: Through the Past Dorkily is a recurring feature that looks back at the embarrassingly dorky diary I kept as a 16-year-old in 1984.
Sunday, June 3, 1984
Song of the day: Working Man - Rush
Well, I don't know what to do for an oral report in Civics. I'm dead.
We went to Methuen Mall where I got a blue blazer and 2 ties. That took till around 4. Then I had to mow the lawn. Fun.
Hey! It was a beautiful day, sunny and in the '70s. This week is supposed to be wicked nice!
At the mall, I saw that girl from the party last night. She's the one we pretended to gang-bang! Now you remember, eh? Seriously, though, she's pretty nice.
Tomorrow's my first day at work. I hope everything goes alright.
- The Barbarian
Monday, June 4, 1984
Song of the day: No Surrender - Bruce Springsteen
Everybody cracked up at my Hawaiian shirt and etc. I got an 82 on Bi Sci test, 96 on Algebra test, 78 on my Vocab project, and a 95 on a French test.
Work went all right. My shoes suck, though. They're too dressy and uncomfortable. I work 3-7 tomorrow and Wednesday (damn) and 5-10 Saturday. Hope [cute girl]'s working tomorrow. I need a ride!
Today was wicked nice! Sun!
I watched the Toronto-Detroit game til midnight. Detroit won 6-3 in 10 innings. Stupid umpires!
- The Barbarian
Tuesday, June 5, 1984
Song of the day: She's Mine - Steve Perry
Man, I'm tired! I went to bed at 12:30 last night and got up at 5:30 to take a shower.
The school day went by pretty uneventfully. Everybody's psyched about tomorrow, including me!
Our driveway was paved today. It kicks!
[Cute girl] gave me a ride to work today. What a babe!
I'm taking [cute girl], Jeremy and [buddy] to the beach tomorrow. [Another buddy]'s getting a ride from [another guy]. Man, it's gonna be great.
The weather's supposed to be awesome!
I finally got those 2 issues of Guitar magazine I've been waiting for. One has Eddie VH on the cover and the other Randy Rhoads. Next month has Alex Lifeson!
I worked till close today. My dinner was 3 candy bars and a root beer. I got home at 10. Whew!
- The (tired) Barbarian
Wednesday, June 6, 1984
Song of the day: Sex and Drugs and Rock 'n Roll - Ian Dury and the Blockheads
What a day!
I left for Jeremy's at 9:45. Then we picked up [buddy]. Backing out of his drive, I almost had a heart attack when I hit this massive rock! Fortunately it only nicked the plastic fender part. Phew.
Then we picked up [cute girl] and went through Salisbury to the beach. We got there just before 11. It was packed! We parked in a motel parking lot for $2. I almost hit a car while parking. It took me 5 minutes to park it right.
When we got on the beach, it was beautiful. And the weather wasn't bad either! Man! Girls everywhere! There were Sanborn people everywhere! I think the whole school skipped (except two dorks). Wow! [Several attractive girls] and more. Thank God for mirrored sunglasses! It started getting cloudy around 12:30, though. We went to McDonald's and met [two hot classmates]. Gaga! Better boobs can't be found!! Incredible. It started getting chilly and we left around 1. That sucked. I wanted to stay till 2. Me, Jeremy and [buddy] left. [Cute chick] stayed and got a ride from [another classmate]. As it turns out, I got home at 2. I worked from 3-7 today. Ironic: [Dude possibly dating ex-gf] works at the Bucket, too. He's cool.
- The (beach) Barbarian Thursday, June 7, 1984
Song of the day: The Mask - Roger Glover
Steamy day. In the 90s.
Believe it or not, I got a B on my oral report in Civics. It sucked! I would have given it a D! Well, I"m not complaining.
I was pretty tired today.
About half the school ( 250 or so) skipped yesterday! Awesome turnout!
I got home and collapsed on my bed for about 3 hours!
Later,
The Barbarian
Friday, June 8, 1984
Song of the day: We're Not Gonna Take It - Twisted Sister Top 5 at Five 1. Life Sucks, Then You Die - The Fools 2. My Oh My - Slade 3. Round and Round - Ratt 4. We're Not Gonna Take It - Twisted Sister 5. Little Lady - Duke Jupiter
Today was even hotter than yesterday. This weather leaves me kind of sluggish.
We made the paper! The Haverhill Gazette had a front page story about our skip day. I cracked up!
We got our prom pictures today. In one of them, I have my damn eyes closed. That sucks. The other one's alright, though.
Next week is finals. Ugh.
- The Barbarian
Postscript: Getting used to working at the Bucket. It was definitely a transition. I was going from a day that went from 6 a.m. to about 3 p.m. and extending that by another seven or eight hours on my feet doing manual labor. It was good, though. Got some cash in my pocket, made some friends and definitely got a little more of a work ethic.
This first few months of driving definitely had some close calls like me driving into that stupid rock, but fortunately nothing remotely close to an accident. And this was before we had cell phones and other shit to distract us. It was just our own stupidity, as it was meant to be.
