PITTSBURGH: AIRPORT LOUNGE

I'm sitting in the airline private lounge at the airport having a beer & watching the Steelers actually win a game. The last week was, for the most part, low key - I've been home waiting for this trip (Nashville 11/12 - 11/18) . We did go out Thursday night to see the Derailers, an Austin based Honky Tonk band I used to see when I lived there. The long-time lead singer left the band a few years ago (quit drinkin' & found Jesus) so the lead guitarist has taken over the singing duties. He was ok, but the band is now a little more rock n'roll and it just wasn't the same.

Friday night a local peace & justice organization, the Thomas Murton Center, had their annual fundraising dinner, giving an award to Angela Davis (w/ Mumia Abu-Jamal introducing her via audiotape) and Adale got me a seat at a table with some people associated with her work (she sat at the YWCA table). The people at my table were elderly folks from a suburban peace & justice group, which worked out just fine for me because old ladies love me. I don't know what it is but they always do - they give me extra pirogis at church dinners, great deals at church bazaars/rummage sales, etc. I don't know what it means that I also have a similar effect on many lesbians, but I do know that I would have it made if old ladies & lesbians ruled the world. Anyway, it was a fun night. Mumia's intro was good. He has such a funny voice. I think he would have had a successful career as movie announcer guy if he hadn't been railroaded onto death row. Angela Davis's remarks were not as good. We saw her a few years ago at Cornell & she was amazing, but this time she kind of winged it and that didn't really work. To be able to listen to her speak is amazing because she's so inspiring (both her speaking style as well as herself & her story). However, it was kind of like at Dead shows where the audience would've given a standing ovation if they had taken a shit on stage. She's probably better when she has to be.

Anyway, I've got to finish my beer & face the riff-raff at the gate.