at least I got a sandwich

The title is just for Scott. I actually got more than a sandwich. It was a good time.

"What? What was a good time, John!?" you are no doubt all asking.

Last night Deb & I and some other people met up at The Potbelly.. local eatery.. to hang out and check out their open mic night, which is every Sunday from 6 - 8pm (with your host, Adam Wolfe).

These people (Josh, Rachel, Kati, Deb & Aiden) came along because they like to hang out and eat sandwiches, and also to make sure that I went through with playing the open mic. ..It was sort of like a shotgun wedding, but where J/R/K/D/A played the part of the shotguns, and the parts of the reluctant groom and the bride were played by myself and a crappy microphone on a high platform (Seriously, there's a ladder. Ever climb a ladder with a guitar?) in the corner of the restaurant.

People who play get a free sandwich for their trouble--which is kind of like saying that people who eat candy get tasty goodness for their trouble, I think--but still definitely a bonus. I had the PBJ, which is excellent. Other highlights of the night included, in no particular order:

~ Really nice people at the open mic. Adam Wolfe was a gracious and giving host, and down-to-earth guy, despite constant assertions of his own evilness. Also, he does a pretty mean Johnny Cash for a rocker guy. Michael, Josh, and Matt (other open-mic-ers) were all nice guys, who didn't make me feel stupid for being at least a decade older than all of them. Additionally, they were all good.

~ Not actually making a fool of myself.* Other than a flubbed chord change, I did alright. People said it was good, I believe them, and they asked me to come back next week. (so how bad can that be, right?)

~ A really wonderful bunch of friends, who were willing to encourage me to do something I should be doing ayway, and not laugh at me for being a loser in that I needed the encouraging in the first place. At least not much.

I will try to make this a fairly regular Sunday thing.

* I did, when coming down off the ladder, have the great idea of "hopping" down and skipping the last couple rungs. Fine idea, except that there was a high-backed chair immediately behind the ladder, and reaching just about six inches further off the ground than my legs are long. I am glad that is wasn't one of those chairs with big knobs on the top. Only Rachel & Josh actually witnessed this entertaining spectacle.