Everybody has a story to tell, oftentimes unbelievable or unconfirmable. Weird things, awesome things, incredible things. Maybe it was an encounter with a majestic wild animal, or perhaps a hilarious set of circumstances that led to one of the most amazingly backward day.
ITT we tell those stories; the awe inspiring, the laghable and the wonderful, the ones we will never forget even if they only amount to 'that one time'.
>be me, 25 m
>working a seasonal job by the coast
>new to area, dont know anyone from Adam
>horribly anti-social, don't play well with others
>local bar does a jazz improv night
>played trumpet for ~10 years, but havent played for 4,...
>Fuck it there'll be booz
>bar has a stage, for hosting
>buncha dudes up on the stage, several drum kits with the stage lights glinting off 'em
>reminds me of 'the days' so I take a seat by the edge of the stage cuz theres already a dozen plus here
>pull out my trumpet Nickel-plated Jupiter Professional with a custom gold-plated, 3a(size), Megatone mouthpiece (shit was baller)
>spend a good hour, just listening to different jams, warming up in between
>go to play a couple times, get nervous, talk myself out of it
>still, the music is awesome, and if youve never, improv music is a special kind of magic
>night is winding down, some people start packing up some of their stuff
>never really examined anyone in detail, wouldnt have even known what was about to happen, still can't believe it TBH
>Guy in the back, clearly one of the first to arrive says "We havent heard from him yet"
>ohfuckohfuckohfuckohfuck
>"Play something"
<Uh,... uhhh,...
>"Pick a key and just play us something, just relax"
<Uhh,... well its a B-flat trumpet so what works for you
>Major or minor?
<Uhhh,... A-minor for Bb trumpet? I swear to god dont say it
>"When you're ready
>start in with a simple haunting-sort of casual noir-esque melody
>dude in the back picks right up with a very light guitar accent
>bass enters, then drums
>and thats about when you lose focus
>when you're given a solo like that, cuz thats what that was, you end up 'saying something' with the music
>oftentimes something you needed to say, and just as often, you didn't know you needed to
>you've already established to the group the sort of melody style
>hey know what to expect
>so you just say what it is you gotta say
>as you keep saying you build momentum, you express more
>probably one of my best solos
>wish I had a recording
>audience and band all clap
>people compliment, especially the other musicians
>firm but non aggressive clap comes down on my shoulder
>guy from the back had walked up, facing the same direction, leans in and says
>that was a really nice solo, kid I may be embellishing the 'kid', been a while
>two days later
>be talking to the bar owner, place is empty
>"So what did you think about the other night"
<It was awesome. I dont have alot of improv experience, I'm used to rehearsals and strict adherence to the page
>"Can you keep a secret"
<Uh, I think so, I dont know anyone to tell
>"You know who that guy who played background guitar for you?"
<He didn't introduce himself, no
>"You didn't recognize him?"
<Wasnt paying attention tbh
>"Don't tell anybody. He doesnt want to be noticed, he doesnt even like to talk to people, and he doesnt get to do this often. He just wants to come for the music
>If you come again, you play along too and dont say anything or you're banned for life, understand?"
>I nod
>"That was Eric Clapton.
>He lives about 40 miles from here, only comes out every so often cuz fans and tourists start showing up when he comes regularly."
Never saw the guy again to confirm, can't imagine the benefit to the bartender lying, but that was the time I may have jammed with Eric Clapton.
3 replies and 2 files omitted.
>>8219More addendums to the "Final day against Steve"
Part of what made it so cool for me AND Steve is he doesnt play often anymore cuz hes older. But he has heaps of experience, but sadly no one usually asks for input or advice.
Similar story for me, years of experience and strategy. But NORMALLY the team tactics amount tl lime I said, pairs and threes huddling amongst themselves, talking amongst themselves, and then going off and doing noob shit.
Not us. We had a team huddle before every field. We showed them how to properly hold the markers for consistency and accuracy. We taught them how to properly target opponents, how to cover moving lanes, how to occupy and utilize bunkers beyond "the thing stopping the 'bullets' from killing me", which bunkers are the most significant and how to utilize their specific attributes,... and most importantly,...
"Alright, I'm not telling anyone what to do. But what I plan to do is this,... and if you guys are with me, here are the key points to occupy, and how I will help you advance."
Alot of skill was passed on that day ^_^
>>8221At the beginning of the day newbs were shouting nonsense like "theres a guy over there!" and uselessly pointing and NOT shooting, to simple commands like "Snake Hot On Me" (I'm taking fire from a specific bunker) and taking cover. Or instead of "Hey get that guy over there, I wanna go to that bunker there!" To "Cover the Dorito, I want the titties" (give me cover fire on a specific bunker, so I can move to the double-spool). And instead of turning and shooting a couple shots and then looking around for something else to shoot at, they respond "Copy" and start shooting the triangle bunker until homie has the titties in hand.
It was kinda like a private Master-Class, and the younger kids really liked an excuse to ironically shout "Titties" ^_^
>>8222The reason - beyond basic personal satisfaction AND team fun and excitement - was this enabled me and Steve to get creative. We would fall back, flank, and advance to provide support for whoever was calling for help, which led to their team calling for help. Players didnt get eliminated quickly, but everyone was actively involved, like a chess piece where every piece moves but none of the pieces get taken. Eventually what ended up happening is either Steve or I would get taken out (usually by newbs, cuz we were only in tourney mode on eachother) and then the remaining captain would fall back and direct their team to victory. We were all frens that day, and our bitches were all excited, bragging about cool stuff that happened.
One thing about this field is the staging/parking area. All around the perimeter of the lot were cable spool tables, waist high. Anyone can use em, but only 4 olayers can fit a full set of gear without scratching, knocking off, or upseting one or more of the others. Those tables are designed for smaller groups.
But next to the pro shop is a GIANT spool thats about 4.5' tall, and its about 12' in diameter. To use that table, you have to bring a high stool, and there are plenty of stools fro players who have brought them. That table is where the OGs sit, cuz we're all just friends who like shooting at eachother.
By the end of the day, none of the newbs were at the kiddie tables. ^_^
>>8220Well, I like the fact that you're getting me to think about genuine events that made me smile, because I don't really (want to) remember those anymore. Will keep reviving those jaded old RAM cells and see what comes out.
I can however align my life's past events and see how they helped me discover and accept Jesus Christ's cost/work-free invitation to sup with me and live in His Kingdom for eternity, which makes going through them all more than worthwhile. It doesn't make me "smile", but I am filled with unmatched appreciation and gladness at the free gift given to me, and the patience and grace extended to me.
It's always a bit "tragic" when impressive skills such as yours end up being left behind in a previous chapter of ones' life, but they can also get built upon and evolve in some way in the next chapter.
Does music and outdoors team fitness still matter to you, or are other things now challenging you in a constructive way?
Okay, maybe I've got 1 "heartwarming" story so far:
I'm a farm-dog, and own chickens - people tend to think that chickens are just stupid, and sometimes that's true, but there can be a "depth" to animals that one won't spot with casual or arrogant observation.
One of the farm chickens ended up getting bad cuts on her feet and legs for some reason, and instead of just going on as normal, or becoming sicker and sicker, she escaped the large area set apart for the chickens (this would not have caused the injury) and walked all the way to my bedroom window and started complaining loudly and persistently - calling me outside. When I went out to see what was going on, she walked up to me closely and just stood and complained in a distressed way.
I noticed the injury, gave her a warm waist-high bath in Betadine, lightly dressed the wound and put her in a large cage in my bedroom with warming light, food and water for a few days.
When she got better, she went back to the chicken-area and was quite happy.
A few months later, chicks had hatched and several hens were out with their chicks scratching in the dirt, pecking feed and doing the usual happy-chicken-stuff.
Every time I entered the chicken area, the mother hens led their chicks away or just ignored me, but bedroom-chicken always greeted me and called her chicks over to meet me, allow me to touch them, and then they'd start doing happy-chicken-stuff right next to my legs until I'd leave.
(Pic probably mostly unrelated.)
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Why the reminder/urgency for not doxxing oneself?
>>8226>>8226>I like the fact that you're getting me to think about genuine events that made me smile, because I don't really (want to) remember those anymoreThis sentence was a journey
>music and outdoor team fitnessMusic when it strikes me, been railing Bury the Light recently. And if by outdoor team fitness yiu mean "managing a 7 acre with cats and dogs and chickens (we're getting ducks and geese in the spring :3).
And yes, animal intelligence is vastly underrated. My cats comprehend simple phrases, and detect when the phrase is varied.
>inside chickensOkay, people been sleeping on this for too long. I know you know, but inside chickens is in fact, a thing. Ffs, we eat what comes from their ass. Keep em happy! Let em inside!
Of course, when they were chicks I would take turns holding them and warming them with my hands and breath,... theres ways to get them to bond better. ^_^
>why the emphasis on not doxxingCuz it's my thread, and I would head off any casting of aspersions
Today's story is a recent one involving a trip to the grocery store.
For perspective, I usually look to be quite the sight; I have an old, stained, mechanic's jumpsuit, my hair/facial is only recently trimmed for HarmonyCon, I keep it otherwise unkempt (and it is rapidly returning to it's ordinary state of disarray because of liberal use of a beanie, and a refusal to shower more often than every couple weeks.
Simply out, my appearance and demeanor in society is a carefully structured statement of:
>Go away. I don't want to talk to you, I DON'T want you to talk to me, I am deliberately as unapproachable and unsightly as possible, please just let me get my things and I will be on my way; avoidance of eye-contact, resting bitch-face, the works.
To my surprise, the young 6 year old in the cart in front of us (one of my brothers was there) says "Hey. Hey" and starts waving to get my attention. This is curious to me, because why are you got getting the memo? I cast a glance at the boy's mortified mother that conveys "Are you okay with this? I certainly am not" before putting on a pleasant face and saying "Yes?"
The boy points to a display that's selling coiled up tubes of vanilla wafers wrapped in chocolate. The boy says "The sign says you should buy it." I look over "It does,..." trying to suggest to the boy that he was being very silly and a bit rude" and he WAVES ME OVER, and says "You gotta do it then! Go buy it!" I reply "Thank you for the notification."
The mother has now had enough of it.
Here's the heartwarming part.
She says, in a tone of voice that gave me chills, to the degree that my brother and I avert our eyes, knowing what is likely to go down:
"If you don't knock it off right now, the only choices you will make for the rest of the night is whether I take my belt off right now, or your father takes his belt off when we get back to the truck."
I love conservative families