The Adventure Committee!

If I had a job writing for a sitcom, I would write an episode called: “The Adventure Committee”.

Let me rewind.

–

I haven’t been writing on Tonguetwisted Ink much lately because I’ve been so busy/stressed/weary with all of the going-ons in Nashville this past week.  Certainly, arriving in Nashville under the impression that I had a full band ready to go only to discover that 2 of those guys could no longer commit – that was a source of stress.  BUT, after much wisdom from God, many blessings, not to mention plenty of hard work and e-mails, I have filled those 2 positions and the Nashville incarnation of Hello Kelly is once again COMPLETE.

It feels good.

–

The last addition is a man named George Wong, a bass player hailing from Berkley University.  Did I ever think a Berkley student would be in my band?  No.  Did I ever hope that an Asian would be in my band?  Yes.  Is that racist?  Probably.

He replied to my Craigslist ad about a bass player and we met at Starbucks.  Within a couple minutes we were talking about how the barista looked like Natalie Portman and how we both love the Ninja Turtles.  Two peas in a pod.

Then he invited me to amateur wrestling.  That’s right, folks.

I wish I had some kind of video proof to show you.  We showed up at this super sketchy motel by the big Nashville stadium and inside, in some hidden back room covered in black paint, sure enough, there was a wrestling ring set up.  A delightfully white trash announcer showed us to our seats and we waited.  In the meantime, some of George’s friends showed up – one of whom was Nate.  I’ll tell you more about him later.

Some of the wrestlers were: The Saint, Eric Hodge (my favourite), Scorpion, Deathwish (a tag team duo), Otis the Farmer, The Convict and Psycho-Media.  Probably the best part of the show itself was the audience going ballistic and yelling at the wrestlers, and the wrestlers yelling right back.  There was 50 people there TOPS, so the insults actually got super personal and I was afraid that more fighting would start than what was happening in the ring.

Highlights of the event?

1. Getting hit on by a 16 year-old white trash girl at the vending machine: “Um, hey.  My friend thinks you’re cute.”  I told her I was 24, got my Nestea, laughed, and went back to my seat.  I think that’s why George and his buddies kept me around for the rest of the night …

2. Psycho-Medic, holding another guy in a chokehold, yelling “MOVE!  MOVE!” at us during the match.  We all got up out of our seats, and he proceeded to SLAM this poor guy’s face against our chairs.  I still can’t believe I was actually THERE.

–

After the match, George and his friends announced that they were going to Battered & Fried, a local restaurant/sushi place/bar.  So I tagged along, and found out that it’s actually a Boston-themed bar – in Nashville.  Well, I’ve never been to Boston but – judging from this bar – I’d like it there.  What a bunch of cool people!

It didn’t hurt that E. Money, one of the players on Nashville’s roller derby team, was a bartender there.  I almost got her autograph but chickened out.  It was HERE that I finally got to know Nate:

Nate is a rare specimen.  From looking at him, you wouldn’t know just how awesome he is – nope, that was unveiled when I asked “Whose idea was wrestling, anyway?”  Well, it turns out that Nate is the head of The Adventure Committee.

The Adventure Committee is a group of guys & gals my age who meet at this bar, Battered & Fried, every Friday night, and brainstorm awesome stuff to do together.  They call these ideas “adventures”.  Then, unlike most of us who come up with silly ideas and forget them, this committee PUTS THEM IN A CALENDAR.  The calendar is kept behind the bar (so that nobody loses it) so that every week they can remind themselves what adventures are coming up.

And they actually DO them.

Amateur wrestling.  Bowling.  Glow in the Dark Mini-Golf.  Roller Derby.  Ice Skating.  Indoor Rock Climbing.  Turkeyfest: A Full Day of Eating Nothing But Turkey.  You name it.  They do it.  All in the name of having adventures and spending time together.

–

I didn’t get the sense that George is super plugged into the Adventure Committee, but he DOES take part in some events.  And, on one hand, I kinda feel bad about taking him on tour because he’ll miss so many experiences with his friends.  But on the other hand, I also look forward to returning to Nashville and being able to enjoy some of these adventures myself – whenever I’m home long enough to enjoy them, that is.

What a fun little way to be part of a community.  And get to know people.  And have adventures!

–

I’m a part of my own Adventure Committee I suppose, and that’s being in a band.  We don’t really PLAN the random adventures that we get into, but we get into them just the same.  Getting a flat tire on the highway.  Having to stop in a ghost town to fix our trailer lights.  Asking people at shows if we can sleep on their floors because the promoter ditched on the hotel rooms.  Playing in some guy’s basement only to have the cops break up the party …

I’m starting to embrace these kinds of experiences more and more … But more on that tomorrow …

–

I’m starting to make friends and enjoy myself in Nashville.  It feels good.  Thank you for your prayers and support.  Oh, and for those who might be concerned about me hanging out at a bar and what-not, please do not worry.  Today I actually went to church 3 times and I have much to say about that … but … again, more to come!  More to come!

–

Have you ever been part of something like an “Adventure Committee”?  I would LOVE to hear your stories of how a random idea turned into a hilarious outing which developed into a night you’ll never forget.  Tell the story in the comments!  (And if you’re reading this via RSS, please drop by the site to leave a comment!)

–

francy