The ex-Mr. Schmooshed
Well I got Tivo...about time I joined the Tivo party. Got the 80 hr one...well because bigger is better. "Hey honey look, what do you think, big huh?" Installed it myself. Geek credentials intact. Jaxon says installation is easy, it is operation that is difficult. Jaxon is coming over today to give me a Tivo lesson. He says I need remedial remote. I should feel insulted, but then again I failed trash night at Ginnies.
During installation everyone called....Garry, just because. Ginnie, just because we miss each other and Jaxon called in full mid life-crisis. Jaxon had just gotten in a fight with his biggest client. Two old Italians, under and over medicated, yelling at each other. "Fuck you". "No, fuck you". So we went to the bar early. Premature pensioners staring in the semi-darkness.
Jaxons client, presumably former client, owns a string of auto body repair shops and Jaxon has produced his radio and TV commercials for years. Jaxon's catch phrase, "if you schmoosh your car..." has helped his client be hugely successful. The catch phrase established a small business owners dream; brand identity. In fact the first guy that walked into the bar, looked at Jaxon and said, "Hey, it's 'Mr. Schmoosh' ". "The ex-Mr. Schmoosh", I replied. A comment too obtuse for 2:30 pm bar denizens.
I bought Jaxon drinks and pointed out that every time he has falling out with a client or employer, something better comes along. Jaxon is hugely talented, but largely oblivious to his own talent. I love that about him. And Jaxon also recognizes developing talent. Jaxon put a young Steve Kimock on stage for the first time. Letting him play in Jaxon's band. "Allright, let little Stevie wonder boy, have a solo". I'll bet those tapes of the old shows would be a fans wet dream. "C'mon Jaxon, let me put em on Ebay". Anyway, Jaxon has an offer of sorts to become the morning co-host of a huge SF radio station...discretion prevents further details. For six figures a year, all he would have to do is wake up cranky every morning.....at least he can bitch about it to me. Good thing he can't see me rolling my eyes while we are on the phone.
Two drinks later we were laughing and riffing as usual. We went out to his car and looked under the hood. Looking for a dead mouse in the air conditioning unit....."Uh, Jax, I don't see nothing....maybe we should get an 'Acme dead mouse detector' at the Warner Brothers store". "Or we could make one out a clothes hanger and a AA battery, what do you think MacGyver?". The hood slammed shut and for no particular reason, the conversation drifted, segued. Quantum segue, as Jaxon began describing the years when famed 60's LSD maker, Augustus Stanley Owsley III had lived down the road in Cotati. Somehow it all made sense. Disassociative sense, but sense nonetheless. Unique context keeping friendship deep.
If the co-host offer materializes, Jaxon should do it. He is big market material. No more Mr Schmoosh. Hello Mr. 57 Thunderbird. Hello portholes. Hello San Francisco. Two months from now, he will wake up thinking "Aww fuck, its early, but I'm rich and I don't have to deal with Gene". And that's not so bad.
During installation everyone called....Garry, just because. Ginnie, just because we miss each other and Jaxon called in full mid life-crisis. Jaxon had just gotten in a fight with his biggest client. Two old Italians, under and over medicated, yelling at each other. "Fuck you". "No, fuck you". So we went to the bar early. Premature pensioners staring in the semi-darkness.
Jaxons client, presumably former client, owns a string of auto body repair shops and Jaxon has produced his radio and TV commercials for years. Jaxon's catch phrase, "if you schmoosh your car..." has helped his client be hugely successful. The catch phrase established a small business owners dream; brand identity. In fact the first guy that walked into the bar, looked at Jaxon and said, "Hey, it's 'Mr. Schmoosh' ". "The ex-Mr. Schmoosh", I replied. A comment too obtuse for 2:30 pm bar denizens.
I bought Jaxon drinks and pointed out that every time he has falling out with a client or employer, something better comes along. Jaxon is hugely talented, but largely oblivious to his own talent. I love that about him. And Jaxon also recognizes developing talent. Jaxon put a young Steve Kimock on stage for the first time. Letting him play in Jaxon's band. "Allright, let little Stevie wonder boy, have a solo". I'll bet those tapes of the old shows would be a fans wet dream. "C'mon Jaxon, let me put em on Ebay". Anyway, Jaxon has an offer of sorts to become the morning co-host of a huge SF radio station...discretion prevents further details. For six figures a year, all he would have to do is wake up cranky every morning.....at least he can bitch about it to me. Good thing he can't see me rolling my eyes while we are on the phone.
Two drinks later we were laughing and riffing as usual. We went out to his car and looked under the hood. Looking for a dead mouse in the air conditioning unit....."Uh, Jax, I don't see nothing....maybe we should get an 'Acme dead mouse detector' at the Warner Brothers store". "Or we could make one out a clothes hanger and a AA battery, what do you think MacGyver?". The hood slammed shut and for no particular reason, the conversation drifted, segued. Quantum segue, as Jaxon began describing the years when famed 60's LSD maker, Augustus Stanley Owsley III had lived down the road in Cotati. Somehow it all made sense. Disassociative sense, but sense nonetheless. Unique context keeping friendship deep.
If the co-host offer materializes, Jaxon should do it. He is big market material. No more Mr Schmoosh. Hello Mr. 57 Thunderbird. Hello portholes. Hello San Francisco. Two months from now, he will wake up thinking "Aww fuck, its early, but I'm rich and I don't have to deal with Gene". And that's not so bad.
posted by Sonoma Blue at 8:14 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home