Inkwell: Authors and Artists

    

Whoa. 

I think that would qualify as...cool. 

In the extreme. 
  

    

New photos at http://www.dgans.com/tourdiary/
  

    



From the GD Hour mailing list:

David,

I just received, from a friend, some recordings of a show you did earlier
this year (opening for DSO) and a solo performance from last year, and I
wanted to take this opportunity to comment, if I may.

I would like to say, without qualification, that it is some of the finest
music I've heard in awhile. Your singing reminded me, at different points, of
a host of singer-songwriters I admire (from Dylan to Gram Parsons to Jerry
and others), without ever being a copy of any of them. You have a unique and
powerfully communicative instrument there, Mr. Gans.

Your songs I think are a delightful mixture of sardonic humor and, well,
apocalyptic fervor. In this respect, they reminded me of Phil Ochs, though
you have more fun with the language. I also like that you unashamedly address
your songs to the subculture of which you are a part - though I think that
this does not lessen their possible impact outside that culture (indeed, I
intend to play a number of your songs for my wife, who is no deadhead).

These shows were definitely a highlight in my otherwise all-too stressful
week, and I look forward to revisiting them soon. One question: are you com-
ing to Colorado anytime soon?

Thank you, David, for your wonderful talent and music. I hope your audiences
grow and grow!

Pax, Mark
  

    


Saturday, April 12, 2003
Area 51 Sound Test 3-D, Indian Springs, NV

Listen
Down to Eugene
Lazy River Road
Night Crawl
Who Killed Uncle John?
Mexicali Blues
Sovereign Soul->
Blue Roses
The Minstrel
Like a Dog->
Terrapin->
An American Family->
What's So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding?->
Our Lady of the Well->
Brokedown Palace


Well, this was a first. Never before have I played a set while suffering from
diarrhea and wondering if I was going to heave before it was over.

The drive from Oakland to Indian Springs would have been a swift eight hours
were it not for an overturned big rig east of Baker that brought traffic on
I-15 to a complete standstill for two solid hours. I was in perfect health at
that time, and I had plenty of healthy snacks in the cooler; once it started
to get dark, I was able to walk into the bushes to pee.

I got to Indian Springs, half an hour north of Las Vegas, at around 11. Funky
little casino and '60s-vintage motel, with a big tent out back for the
festival.  The festival was already under way with music in the casino; I
played some video poker with loud psychedelic music filling the room and tie-
dyed freaks of all ages outnumbering the regulars.  The one blackjack table
was friendly enough, with two pleasant middle-aged ladies trading off between
dealing and cocktailing. I put down a twenty and had it up over $30 for quite
a while. George Lyons, part of the Las Vegas Jam Band Society and host of a
local jam radio show on KUNV, who I've known around the GD scene for 20 years
or so, introduced me to the guy sitting next to me at the table, and from
there my attention started to flag.  I knew it was time to go when I absent-
mindedly asked for a hit on a 15 -- which I never ever would his if I were
paying attention, and especially not when the dealer had a 6 showing.

After a visit to an RV with the guy I'd been sitting with at the table,
during which I met the first of three people (so for) who happily reported
that the first live Grateful Dead they ever heard was on my radio show, I
returned to the casino to hear Los Hijos de Sancho, a trio of brothers from
Tijuana whose jazz-funk pyrotechnics weren't as electrifying I'd been led to
expect.

I stopped in the general store on my way back to my room and bought some
orange just and a can of kipper snacks.  I drank some of the former and ate
some of the latter w/ whole grain crackers, watched some late-night TV, and
went to sleep.

I woke up in the morning and went back to the store for a cup of coffee. I
was feeling a little queasy and bloated, and before long it was clear
something was terribly wrong. I wasn't able to eat any breakfast, and I
wasn't able to stay out of the bathroom for more than five minutes at a time.
 I spent about three hours in my room, warming up a bit on the acoustic
guitar and marveling at the sulfurous emanations bubbling up from my stomach
and...

I made a set list. I had an 80-minute time slot, which is ordinarily enough
time to keep things loose, but I knew I was going to have a rough time of it
so I decided to play it just a little safe. Plus, I had awakened the long-
dormant "Listen" and wanted to make sure I didn't forget to play it.

After showing and dressing, I discovered that I would get dizzy from even the
slightest exertion. I loaded my gear and merch into the truck and drove over
to the stage area. Everything went smoothly w/ the setup, though something
was dead in my pedal board that turned out to be the octave box. Took it out
of the circuit and Bob's your uncle.

There weren't very many people in the tent area when I started -- not
surprising, given that there was live music until 6 am and the campground was
alive all night -- but there were enough people to interact with, and the
population grew as my set progressed.

I came this close to asking the hospitality crew for a bucket in case I had
to hurl, but instead I asked for some Pepto-Bismol. I just took a modest slug
from the bottle; not sure if it helped, but anyway I didn't puke.

I started at 11:15 with "Listen," and although I was dizzy and hanging on for
dear life, I felt both inspired and in control of the music.  I deviated from
the written set by skipping "Surely You Jest" (listed after "Lazy River
Road") -- not really a creative decision: a microphone cable obscured it on
the paper at my feet.

During "Blue Roses," in my slightly panicked state, I misread the indicator
lights on my loop station, and thought I wasn't recording when I was.  So the
solo was a tad more multi-layered than I had planned, and also a bit shorter.
I doubt the blunder was apparent to anyone but me.

At the end of the set, "Our Lady of the Well" sailed smoothly into "Brokedown
Palace" rather than fading out. I had time to play "Trying," but my left hand
was starting to cramp and I was seriously ready to be off that stage, so I
quit a few minutes early.

My performance was well-received, and all the people who put on the show were
very kind and helpful. Sound guy was enthusiastic, even.

I went right back to my room to lie down, and I listened to the show on tape.
I am pleased with the quality of my rhythm playing, my singing, and my lead
playing. The loop accompaniments are right in time, and my solos reasonably
error-free. You'd never know from the audio that I was worried about keeling
over the whole time. On the negative side, I sampled only half the number of
bars I needed at the start of "Like a Dog" (which was supposed to have been
preceded by "I Bid You Good Night," I see now from the written list) -- which
led to a less elaborate intro jam than I had envisioned -- but again, only I
know what I had had in mind for that moment.

Mid-afternoon I got up to get some Gatorade to rehydrate.  I wandered over to
the concert area, and there was Al Schnier.  And then there were Chuck and
Vinnie.  We just got to talking, and an hour later I realized I hadn't been
to tthe bathroom once.  My stomach was still a little queasy, but the crisis
was over.

The rest of the day was a very pleasant one, visiting with good friends --
and singing "Hotel California" with moe. during their first set.  They had
given me three options -- "Jack Straw," "The Harder They Come," and "Hotel
California."  I chose the one that had no Dead connection, but I paid the
price: they play it in the original key, which is a fifth higher than the key
I sang it in at Taos in February.  My voice cracked a few times, but it sure
was fun to sing it with 'em. And it was great to hear my favorite guitar gods
-- it's been way too long.

I then wound up in the restaurant with the Nelson Band, taking pictures of
slabs of beef and shooting the shit about all sorts of fun stuff.  I just
love those guys.  Later, Mookie Siegel and I sat in my hotel room for aboout
two hours, during which I heard his story of how he got here.  We compared
notes and talked a lot about the difficulties we face in this weird-ass music
business and aboout our profound good fortune in being able to make the sort
of music we are making.  It was great to get to know him a little better.

I also had a chance to show my fingerpicking arrangement of "Lazy River Road"
to Mookie and David.  They were duly impressed.



Sunday was even more fun.  I sat in with the David Nelson Band for four
songs, two in the first set and two in the second -- the last of which was a
"Wheel" that just made my heart sing.  Especially since I was standing right
next to Barry at the pedal steel.

The Nelson Band really hits up my power alley, and I love listening to them
as much as I love sitting in.  Their groove is exactly my groove, so fitting
in wiith them is easy.  Afterwards, Nelson had some kind words for my work,
especially on "Cumberland Blues."  I said, "It's easy to fit in with you guys
-- you have the band I wish I had."  And it's true.  They are just great.

Also way-cool: Nelson asked me for the lyrics to "Who Killed Uncle John."  He
wants to do it.  Fortunately, I had the words printed out and also a copy of
the 3/1/03 Fillmore show, which opens with WKUJ.

Way-cool on a whole nother level: I won more than a hundred bucks playing
video poker this morning, and another two hundred at the same machine just a
few minutes ago.

I also really enjoyed hanging with Chuck Garvey over by Barry's side of the
stage during the DNB's set, both of us admiring Barry's pedal steel playing.
Al and Vinnie got off on the DNB, too, and they all hung out together after
the DNB's set.

Sunday evening, I was standing at the side of the stage during moe.'s encore,
"Mexico," when Al motioned for me to come up.  He handed me his guitar in
mid-jam, and then Rob handed Al his bass and moved back over to the
percussion rig w/ Jim.  I couldn't hear much, 'cause they use in-ear monitors
and there were no speakers on stage, so I couldn't hear Chuck's guitar at
all. But I watched his hands, and I played some lead lines and some rhythms
-- and then Chuck took over the bass and Al wound up at the end playing
Chuck's guitar.  It was wild!!

The whole thing was over by 9:00, and then I checked out of the motel and
headed into Las Vegas, where I joined George Lyons on his radio show until 2
am.  Played a few songs live, and I played a bunch of stuff from my stash of
CDs: DTB, of course, and Jim Page and Andras Jones ("Hold Your Nose and
Vote"), and Bob Dylan and all kinds of stuff.

I abandoned my plan to go to Mystic Hot Springs on Monday, 'cause the
hospitality in Las Vegas was so warm.  I just hung out at George Lyons' house
with him and his girlfriend and their cat.  I got my tour diary updated with
several pages of new photos, and I spent way too much time wrestling with
adobe.com because the trial version of Photoshop Elements expired and I had
to buy it.  Fortunately, George has a cable modem so I was able to download
the software pretty quickly.

I left Las Vegas at around 1:00, with no plan other than to drive around
Arizona and see some sights.  I drove across Hoover Dam and stayed on US 93,
enjoying the wide open spaces and stopping often to take pictures.  I spent
half an hour or so at a yard full of rusty old farm equipment near Wikieup ,
and stopped in Wickenburg to call home and enjoy the long shadows and the
rising moon.

Opting for the comforts of a modern motel and free Internet access, I drove
on into Phoenix.  I had a hell of a time finding a hotel, tho -- this is one
place that doesn't have GAS FOOD LODGING signs w/ logos at every exit, and
the highways are blessedly free of neon clutter.  I don't know how they
manage that, but despite my frustration in finding a place to stop I really
appreciate the esthetics of the highways around here.

Oh, a postscript on the gambling story: I stopped at a grocery store on my
way out of Vegas, and of course there are slot machines on the way in.  I
slipped a dollar into a video poker machine, and two hands later I walked
away with nine bucks.
  

    
Ya gotta luv a musician who gives the real straight poop on what it's
like to be a rock 'n roll star!
  

    
Ha!

I'm staying at Jerry and Julie Lawson's house in Phoenix.  Jerry is the
leader of The Persuasions, and he's going to be joining the festivities
tonight w/ me and Vince Welnick and Xtra Ticket.  I'm really looking forward
to this!

Last night we went to a Diamondbacks game.  Exciting game, which the home
team pulled out in the bottom of the ninth!
  

    
Which reminds me... (e-mail to be sent shortly)
  

    


Last night was a major high point in my musical life:  I sang onstage with
JERRY LAWSON of The Persuasions.  We did a four-song mini-set in the middle
of the show -- "Blueberrry Hill," "It Must Have Been the Roses," "He Will
Break Your Heart," and "Might as Well" -- and Jerry joined us at the end of
the show for a "Ripple" that left all that contemplative haiku energy far
behind in favor of a gospel rave-up like that song has never seen before.

This dude is a serious, powerful entertainer.  What a thrill!

And what's more, Jerry has decided to come to Flagstaff with us to do it
again tonight!
  

    
What fun.
  

    

http://www.dgans.com/tourdiary/tourdiary.9962.html
  

    


 Life on the road entails a lot of memory-checking, patting of pockets,
 counting of bags, etc.

 It wasn't until two days later, as I stuck a washcloth under the tap in a
 motel room in Lost Hills CA, that I realized I had left a pair of wet swim-
 ming trunks in Chris Scully's bathtub in Flagstaff.

 And it wasn't until I got home on Tuesday afternoon that I realized I had
 left a bag of dirty laundry... SOMEWHERE.  It was either in the Motel 6 in
 Lost Hills, oor at Norm Ruth's house in Rio Rancho.

 I called Norm.  Sandy had wondered aloud if I was expecting her to do my
 wash!  "Of course not," I replied. Yoou can send it home dirty!
  

    
Whew!  Good thing it was with someone you knew, instead of the Motel
6!
  

    
THat's for sure!
  

    



Greetings!

There is a good chance the long-awaited CONCERT DVD will be available
starting at this week's gigs.




Thursday, June 26, 9:00 pm:  DG and Andras Jones at the Oakland Metro, 201
Broadway, Oakland C. www.oaklandmetro.org


Friday, June 27, 8pm: DG opens for Box Set at the Noe Valley Ministry, 1021
Sanchez Street, San Francisco. www.boxset.com


Saturday, June 28: DG opens for Big Brother and the Holding Company at the
Jenner Theater in Jenner CA (at the mouth of the Russian River). Benefit
concert for the Jenner Watershed Fund.  (707) 865-1938,
www.jennerconcerts.org


 


Saturday, July 12, 1:00 pm: Oregon Country Fair - Blue Moon Stage.
www.oregoncountryfair.org
 
Thursday, July 24: Tammany Hall, Worcester MA. Opener & guests TBA


Friday, July 25: Camp Creek, Mariaville NY. www.maxcreek.com
 


Friday, August 1, 7:30 pm: Seventh Annual JerryBash, featuring the DeadBeats.
North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center, Nevada City CA. DG Opens.
www.netshel.net/deadbeat/

Saturday, August 2: Club Fred, Fresno. Benefit for KFCF (tentative)
 
Saturday, August 9, 7:00 pm: Hopland Inn, Hopland CA


Sunday, August 10: Dead on the Creek '03, Uncle John's Camp in Willits CA.
707-459-3015. Also appearing Saturday and/or Sunday: The Rowan Brothers,
Laurie Lewis Trio, Wake the Dead, Rattlebox w/ Lorin Rowan, Eric and Suzy
Thompson, the Deadbeats. DG and Friends play late Sunday afternoon.
www.deadonthecreek.com
 
Sunday, September 14, 3:30-4 pm: Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival, Old Mill
Park

October 16-19: MagnoliaFest at the Spirit of the Suwannee MusicPark in Live
Oak FL. Sam Bush Band, Donna the Bufffalo, Railroad Earth, Peter Rowan, Larry
Keel Experience, and zillions more.  /www.magmusic.com


 
  

    

I've been posting pictures from my photojournalism days at

http://www.fotolog.net/all_photos.html?user=gans_archive
  

    

I left home yesterday afternoon, late because of matters pertaining to my
wife's health crisis.  Traffic was just miserable every inch of the way, and
it was well past 6 when I turned north on Highway 49.  My gas tank was
nearing empty as I passed through Nevada City, but I thought I'd be okay
because the warning light hadn't come on yet.

By the time I reached the South Yuba River Access sign, I knew I had a LONG
way to go and so I turned around to look for gas.   The warning light was
cackling fiercely in my ear by this time, and I had a sick feeling in my
stomach that I was going to run out of gas while out of cell phone range and
make a total fiasco out of my day/career/life.

Got back to town, saw a nice reassuring SHELL sign.  Got closer: gas station
BOARDED UP!  Panicking, I yelled out my window to a pedestrian, who told me
to turn right and I'd see a gas station.

Oh, I really had to pee at this point, too.  Really had to pee.

Soon I did see a gas station.  Pulled in and started pumping gas.  Went to
look for the bathroom.  The door was locked.  I waited.

Pulled the hose out of the gas tank before it was totally full -- that's how
late I was, and that's how bad I had to pee.

Bathroom still locked.  Maybe it requires a key?  Sure would be nice if they
posted a sign to that effect.

Went to the counter.  Yep, here's the key.

Took care of that pressing business, returned the key, got in the car and
hoped I'd remember my way back to 49.  Found it.

Drove and drove and drove.  Wondered if I had missed Tyler Foot Road.  Almost
did miss Tyler Foote Road.   Turned on Tyler Foote Road.  Drove and drove.
Passed spanking new fire station, looking for store on left so I could keep
driving past it.  Passed store on left.  Drove and drove.  Oral directions
received on phone did not provide info on how far to drive.  Kept driving.
Gas tank full and bladder empty, I had only the stress of BEING LATE FOR A
GIG to reckon with.

At last, the gig!

Handsome young parking attendant showed me to an excellent spot near the
entrance.  As I got out of my car, I spotted my young friend Ryan and asked
him to help me carry my stuff.

It was instantly clear that I had not missed the gig, nor was I necessarily
all that late for it.  People had been checking their voice mail for messages
from me, but no one was pissed off or too worried.  Everyone was very kind,
made me feel welcome immediately.  That beautiful woman in the cowboy hat
turned out to be the person I'd been communicating with about DeadBeats stuff
for the last couple of years.  Paul forgave me for not getting there early to
rehearse.  Gary introduced himself.  Sound and stage guys presented
themselves and asked what I needed (my needs are simple).  Was greeted with a
guy by Steve the liquid lights guy, who I was very pleasantly surprised to
encounter so far from where we usually meet.

Had a moment to put a little veggie-rice in my belly and drink some water,
began to work on stopping my entire body from vibrating anxiously.

Got my stuff set up, got my guitar into my hands and started to warm up a
bit.  When I said I was ready, Kathy got up and made some announcements, then
gave me a very warm introduction, after which the few dozen folks in the
audience gave me a warm welcome.

I had planned the first two songs of my set, and had a general idea of what
the central sequence would be (this being Jerry Day, I know I'd play Terrapin
and The Minstrel).

By the time I had played the intro to my first song, "Down to Eugene," I felt
like I was finally returning to my body.  I was still wacked out enough to
skip the instrumental and fourth verses and go straight to the second bridge,
but by the end of the song, I remembered who I was and why I was there.  Far
from perfection but definitely in a happy, happy place.  The crowd was warm
and encouraging, and as my performance progressed, the audience grew.  I
heard a cheer for a guitar solo here and there, laughter in he appropriate
places, and a silent but utterly tangible bonding with all the people around
me as I sang my Grateful Dead songs, "Lazy River Road" and "Terrapin."

Paul Kamm joined me for "Brokedown Palace" and "Pancho and Lefty," and
without rehearsal we managed to feel our way into each other's phrasing
reasonably well.  Our guitars fit together nicely, too.

My unplanned set ended in an unexpected way, with two of my more sardonic
meta-Dead songs ("Surely You Jest" aka "Positively Front Street" and "Who
Killed Uncle John?"); I had some fear that they might be taken the wrong way
by an over-reverent gang of Deadheads, but I was wrong to worry: the spirit
of my story was well-received.  Still, I was wishing I had found a sweeter
way to end my presentation, and so I was very happy when Kathy urged me to
play one more.  That gave me the opportunity to close with "Attics of My
Life," with Paul's vocal help.

I turned around and drove home afterwards, because I really need to be at
home and not on the road right now.  I really wish I could have stayed for
the whole two-day miracle.

To make a long story short: I needed that.
  

    
Ahhhhh.  :)
  

    


Dear friends,

First of all, I want to say thank you to the HUNDREDS of people who sent kind
words, prayers, beams, and other good energy in our direction.  Rita sailed
through her surgery last Friday (the surgeon's nurse said, "You have two very
important things going for you: You're in excellent condition, and you have a
great attitude."  We would add a third factor, that being the tremendous
outpouring of good wishes from friends and family around the country,
including all of you) and did so well in post-op that they sent her home a
day early.  We'll find out more about the diagnosis and the prognosis next
week.  Meanwhile, my beloved bride is safe at home, surrounded by good energy
from all around the world.  Thank you.

My musical plans have been somewhat attenuated by events at home, obviously,
but I do have some things going on in the near future (see below) and I
expect to be able to hit the road for real in October.  MagnoliaFest is a
great place to get your batteries recharged!

Also of interest is the arrival at long last of LIVE AT THE POWERHOUSE, a
concert DVD recorded at the Powerhouse Brewing Co. in Sebastopol CA and
released by PowerVision DVD.  Visit http://www.trufun.com/perfectible/dvd to
view a sample, see the track list, and order online.  You can order a copy by
mail ($18.00, incl. tax & postage) from Perfectible Recordings, 484 Lake Park
Ave. #102, Oakland CA 9410-2730.



Here is the current performance schedule:

Friday, August 15, 9:30 pm: Stella Blue, 3001 Central Avenue, Albuquerque NM.
$10. 505-268-8667.  CD release party for Civitas; DG opens the show.
 
Saturday, September 6, 10:00 am: DG appears on Sedge Thomson's West Coast
Live. KALW 91.7 in San Francisco - see web page for other stations.
Broadcast is from Ft. Mason in SF -- see www.wcl.org for ticket info and a
list of stations that broadcast the show.


Saturday, September 6, 11 am-7 pm:  Marin Music Festival, w/ Bob Weir and
Ratdog, Country Joe McDonald, Don't Push the Clown, Jemimah Pudddleduck,
Father Guido Sarduccci, and others. DG performs and also MCs.  Lagoon Park at
the Marin Civic Center, San Rafael CA. Tickets via GDTS-Too (www.gdtstoo.com,
415-457-6388)


Friday, September 12, 8:30 pm: Club Fred, 1426 N. Van Ness Ave., Fresno CA.
Benefit for KFCF.  Bradley "Dudeboy" Rogers opens.  $8 advance, $10 at the
door.  Call 559-233-2221 for more info or to order tickets.


Sunday, September 14, 3:30-4 pm: Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival, Old Mill
Park
 

Sunday, October 12, 8:00 pm:  De La Luz @ Templeball, 307 E. Main Street,
Carrboro NC.  $7 advance, $8 day of show.  919-929-1208


October 16-19: MagnoliaFest at the Spirit of the Suwannee MusicPark in Live
Oak FL. Sam Bush Band, Donna the Bufffalo, Railroad Earth, Peter Rowan, Larry
Keel Experience, and zillions more.


(More southeast dates TBA ASAP)
  

    
I love you, Gans.  Beams and best wishes to Rita and to you.
  

    
Thanks, man!
  

    
Prayers and well-wishes from the Mid-Atlantic sector as well.  Thanks
for the good news!
  

    
ooooh, West Coast Live -- that's very cool, David. Congrats!
  

    

Friday, August 29, 8pm

7th Direction, The Hot Buttered Rum String Band, Transcendental Hayride and
the amazing solo guitarist David Gans.



Historic Sweets Ballroom
1933 Broadway
Oakland, CA  94612

510-625-0537

www.historicsweetsballroom.com
  

    

>I left home yesterday afternoon, late because of matters pertaining
to my
wife's health crisis.  Traffic was just miserable every inch of the
way, and
it was well past 6 when I turned north on Highway 49.  My gas tank was
nearing empty as I passed through Nevada City, but I thought I'd be
okay
because the warning light hadn't come on yet.

By the time I reached the South Yuba River Access sign, I knew I had a
LONG
way to go and so I turned around to look for gas.   The warning light
was
cackling fiercely in my ear by this time, and I had a sick feeling in
my
stomach that I was going to run out of gas while out of cell phone
range and
make a total fiasco out of my day/career/life.

Got back to town, saw a nice reassuring SHELL sign.  Got closer: gas
station
BOARDED UP!  Panicking, I yelled out my window to a pedestrian, who
told me
to turn right and I'd see a gas station.

Oh, I really had to pee at this point, too.  Really had to pee.

Soon I did see a gas station.  Pulled in and started pumping gas. 
Went to
look for the bathroom.  The door was locked.  I waited.

Pulled the hose out of the gas tank before it was totally full --
that's how
late I was, and that's how bad I had to pee.

Bathroom still locked.  Maybe it requires a key?  Sure would be nice
if they
posted a sign to that effect.

Went to the counter.  Yep, here's the key.

Took care of that pressing business, returned the key, got in the car
and
hoped I'd remember my way back to 49.  Found it.

Drove and drove and drove.  Wondered if I had missed Tyler Foot Road. 
>Almost did miss Tyler Foote Road.   Turned on Tyler Foote Road. 
Drove and drove.  Passed spanking new fire station, looking for store
on left so I could keep driving past it.  Passed store on left.  Drove
and drove.  Oral directions received on phone did not provide info on
how far to drive.  Kept driving.  Gas tank full and bladder empty, I
had only the stress of BEING LATE FOR A GIG to reckon with.

I've had that experience in one place or another so many times, and
I'm don't play music, I work for some bank.  Don't it always seem to
go?
  

    
 Soon I did see a gas station.  Pulled in and started pumping gas.
 Went to
 look for the bathroom.  The door was locked.  I waited.

 Pulled the hose out