Much as I’d like to, Newcastle Days is too big to handle by myself. Of course, I still try. Way too much. But year by year, I get a little bit better at asking for help. So I rely a lot on our City Public Works Boys, especially for doing heavy lifting of gates and tents and everything that weighs more than me, and dealing with things like port-a-potties and generators and anything that might fall over or blow up and kill me.
So a few weeks before the festival, we usually do a pre-event logistics meeting to go over activities, parking plans, electirical needs, deliveries and set-up. Because, damn: Fifteen performers. Tent crew. Fireworks crew. Two stages. Fencing. Signage. Bathrooms. Food vendors…Decorations. Electricity. Booth vendors. Car show. Volunteers. Inflatable toys, sponsors, arts & crafts…BLAM! There went my head all over the wall.
This is how our meeting went this August:
Jules: Ok! Here’s all the stuff we gotta get done by Sept. 5. Who’s pumped?! W00t!
Public Works Boys: So, wow. That list’s about as long as my leg. Hmm.
Jules: Same list as last year, minus a few things. No assembling an entire skatepark in the tennis court – yay!
Public Works Boys: Well, it’s just…
Jules: What?
Public Works Boys: uh…there’s this sinkhole…sortof opened up in front of the mayor’s driveway last night…and…we kinda have to deal with that…
Jules: *blink*
Public Works Boys: …for a few days…
Jules: *BLINK* *BLINK*
Okay. Do you see a sinkhole? I don’t see a sinkhole. At least, certainly not one NEARLY big enough to justify ignoring my preschus event needs for a whole two weeks.
Apparently, repairing sinkholes involves lots and lots of big tools, big trucks, digging big holes in places nowhere near the problem, and sign throwing.
Yo yo yo, homies. It’s the Double Gun PWorks Crew, in the hoooouuuse. ahem. Street.
Sadly, I didn’t see anyone ‘throwing the horns’. So I asked one of the guys about it, and they were all, “THAT’S THE NUMBER OF DAYS ON THE PROJECT, DORK.”
I was all, “WHATEVER, DUDE. What the hell do I know about shovels and rocks and anything that involves getting dirty?”
“Aren’t you always telling us about how you used to help your dad install toilets and paint offices and move huge model train sets?”
“Yes, BUT…I only say that when you guys harrass me about tossing stuff down from the attic.”
“You go up there in NICE DRESSES AND HEELS!”
“Well, OBVIOUSLY, because I need something RIGHT. THEN.”
I guess this means they built this pond area on Day 1? Or “Project=0, Josh=1”? Not sure. Maybe it’s the years of life he lost after meeting up with this scary-scaley mofo:
That’s a Pacific Giant BARKING Salamander. Josh found it under a cone. And I think if it’d been me, that salamander would be UNDER the shovel, not beside it.
Needless to say, the PWorks Crew did a bang up job and still helped me with every last thing on my ginormous tasklist. In the process, they took Newcastle to the national spotlight this week – not for our many events or major transportation projects or zoning improvements – no, we’re famous for a salamander named Salvator. As in, “I am SalvaTOR! Mighty Eater of Faces and Small Dogs! I live in the ‘crik’ down younder, beeewaaare!”
Related Links
Newcastle 411: title
KOMO News
KIRO 7 Wierd Headlines
King 5
Two and a half pages of Google Results
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LOL! I think it was way cool, too! Actually, I don’t think I really would have squished him under a shovel, but I know I WOULD have screamed and ran like a girl. And then I’d have creeped back to play with it.
Little Loren said that was cool. I think it’s cool too. Not sure what I would have thought if I’d found it myself though!
Way cool. He’s so cute (the lizard)! Glad they got everything done and at least the little lizard got some fame anyhow.