How I spent National Earles and Jensen Day. That was May 6th. That was also the day that our record was released.  

7:00 to 7:30 - Woke up, or as Watt would put it, “popped” to my cell phone’s alarm. Mom’s* couch. Had a cup of weak coffee (my mother drinks “half-caff”) and a bowl of (frosted) shredded wheat.

7:30 to 10:00 - Bought a real cup of coffee. Dealt with pharmacy and bank. Spent an hour returning e-mails and chipping away at work/writing. Marveled at, and decided to use, this YouTube clip in a promotional stunt.

10:00 to 11:00 - Got a haircut. Hairdresser is a friend of many years. Discussed: My record, family issues, a conversational interloper (upon departure, behind her back), our respective doctors, money, relationships.  

11:00 to 12:30 - Returned to my apartment. Fed cats + fish. Work/Writing. Made/received several phone calls.

12:30 to 1:15 -  Retrieved mail from PO Box, mailed several packages, picked up Indian food to go.

1:15 to 3:30 - Work/Writing

3:30 to 5:00 - Dropped off belated birthday gift for Dave Dunlap’s two-year-old son (a bucket of beginner’s Lego’s, or ‘Duplos’). Stopped by Goner Records to purchase steadily growing bag of hold items and to make some brief notations (physical layout) re: Saturday afternoon release gala. Picked up Mom from work and drove her home.

5:00 to 9:00 - Began journey back to Midtown Memphis. Stopped at big box music retailer and “pulled a Tav Falco.”** There were three copies of Earles and Jensen Present…Just Farr A Laugh Vol 1 & 2 (The Greatest Prank Phone Calls Ever!) in the comedy section. There were zero copies in the used bin. A female friend invited me to a birthday pool party on Saturday afternoon. I uninvited myself not by using the real excuse (record release extranvaganza…5:30 PM, 5/10), but through a series of return texts that repeatedly referenced “accidental boners” and various pool mishaps by way of bodily functions. Conducted long(ish) interview (6:15 - 7:30) for book. Called a local chain store (Midtown location) to ask about the availability of my release. Did not disguise voice or inject any “prank” elements into call. After being put on hold for seven minutes and talking to two employees, I was informed that they had three copies in stock. Ate leftover Indian food. Obtained a rent receipt from my landlord.

9:00 to til - Returned to Mom’s. Finished some tasks heavy lifting around the joint. Worked/Wrote (including this post) until bedtime. Turned down a couple of social invitations. Did not party. Looked for mentions of my album on the Internet. Decided to do something relaxing or recreational tomorrow (today) if time/tasks allow.

Music listened to: Naked Raygun, Desmond Dekker, Dark Angel, Solomon Grundy, Torche, The Posies and possibly others that fall beyond easy recollection….. 

* Last week, my mother suffered a fall in the middle of the night. Diagnosis? A couple of cracked ribs + very painful internal bruising. Forced to breathe lightly due to the pain, some fluid started to develop on the lungs, which led to a manageable but briefly troubling case of “walking” pneumonia. Lots of x-rays, lots of waiting rooms, etc. Her health is improving, so this is my last night on her couch (I could sleep in the guest bedroom, but the high-speed cable will not reach…no TV, etc).

** As I was working the counter one Sunday afternoon at Shangri-La Records (mid-to-late-90’s), Tav Falco entered with his girlfriend and began to thoroughly examine the Tav Falco and Panther Burns sections (vinyl AND cd). This went on for about ten minutes before he approached the counter and asked, “Do you have any Tav Falco and Panther Burns?”