shard

I was going to join my friends for the Doo Da parade in Pasadena last Sunday but instead I helped my friend, Phil, move. Jeff & Mona were hosting the Higland Park Circuit Bending Gentleman's Society and Women's Auxiliary. Basically, they formed a marching band where everyone was playing home-made electronic toys. I've never been to that parade, but I guess it's pretty crazy.

Anyway, after they got home from the parade, they dropped off all their stuff at Mona & Jeff's and then went to Mr. T's Bowl for a drink. When they walked back to the house, they were shocked to see the Fire Department putting out a fire in Mona & Jeff's place. The neighbors thought they were barbecuing until they saw the smoke coming out of the windows and made the call.

Apparently, a fire had started inside the living room wall due to bad wiring, according to the Fire Inspector. The fire dept. tore out half the wall and part of the floor chasing the hot spots. The ceiling in the living room is pretty much gone. The scorched beams are still there, but much of the second floor is off-limits for structural reasons. You can see all the way up to the roof where the fire dept. cut holes in the roof to vent the fire. Even though the house is salvageable, most of it is smoke damaged.

Tuesday I received an email asking them for help in cleaning up and it was the first I'd heard of it. The work wasn't that bad. It was more important to have a lot of support there.

For a couple hours, I went sifting through a three foot high pile of rubble in the living room with a shovel. We were trying to find things that they wanted to keep because the restoration crew that was coming in the following day was more likely to throw stuff out.

The whole time we were working a slew of independent claims adjusters were approaching the house with their cards trying to sell their services. These people are basically ambulance chasers. They want to file your claim with the insurance co. under the premise that they can save you money on the work and you get to keep the leftover money. The trick is they get %7.5 of whatever's leftover. Unless you're unhappy with your insurance company, do not fall for this. It creates a conflict of interest between your claims adjuster and your insurance co.

Needless to say, Jeff finally got irritated and just started to tell these people to take a walk before they could start their spiel.

After the clean up work, we went to the Wild Hare to unwind. The staff noticed that we all smelled like smoke. Jeff & Mona are being put up in a hotel in Glendale right now and then they'll stay in an apartment while the reconstruction is being done.

We had just gotten our food when Jeff started to break down. Everyone was consoling him that it was going to be OK and that they're lucky to be alive and what they lost were just material posessions. Jeff said, "It's not that. It's just, it's just our friends. I'm so overwhelmed by all our friend's coming together and helping out. I knew they were good friends, but I had no idea how wonderful they are until now."

I just patted him on the back and said, "Hey man, if it were my place, you'd help me out. Right? It's what friends do. You're real friends are the ones who stick around after everyone else has left. Also, your friends are a reflection on you. If you have good friends, they like you because you're a good guy."

After our little "man love" moment, we headed out but Jeff & Mona refused to let me pay for my part of the bill. I felt kinda awkward, like taking advantage of them at a weak moment.

I guess sometimes it's easier to give help than it is to accept it.

I ended up playing at Mr. T's later on. I got there a bit late because I was the last one on the sign-up sheet. I ended up doing The Replacements "I Will Dare", Elvis Costello "Miracle Man", Tom Waits "Pony", and the Pogues "Dirty Old Town". At that point, there were two other musicians remaining, my friend Carter, the sound guy, and the bartender. The two other musicians freaked out on the Pogues tune. Everyone really likes that song. I guess a lot of it has to do with picking songs that other people don't perform all the time.

The bartender turned on the ugly lights before my last song. I hauled all my gear out there, I might as well have played, right? It's always good practice.

Yesterday, I went over to Jill & Al's for a potluck Thanksgiving. I made mashed yams, which I've never done before, but they came out well and it was fairly simple to do.

It was quite nice. Good friends, great food, a little drink. I like it when everyone dresses up. Nick's date, Riley, who I haven't seen in years, commented on how this group of friends tend to dress up and how much she likes that. Then, she proceeded to rail on the younger generation for not dressing up, being stuck in the 70's, lack of creativity, blah blah blah. She's also a DJ and continued the same talk about the club owners she's had to work with. Fortunately, she's found a couple clubs that appreciate her ideas.

Oh, yeah, Andrew barbecued the bird and it was scrumptious.

I'm coming down with that damn sinus/throat thing that is going around. I was hoping to join the Critical Mass ride tonight, but I don't think it's going to happen. I picture an immediate future comprising of working on my term paper and watching movies. I may actually have to venture out to redeem my Working Assets Ben & Jerry's coupon.