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Dreams really do come true!

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 10:38 am
by sloop_john_b
I've been having a lousy week.

After all, what could possibly touch the euphoric, noisy, drunken weekend that was SoCalCon '07? Certainly not my first week of classes.

I can't remember having such a busy week at school in god-knows-when. Writing papers, writing abstracts, finishing up compositions for my recital, waking up WAY too early every day, and sitting through some painfully boring classes. Today was the worst yet - it's not fun being publicly chewed out by a professional harpsichord player for some minor slip-ups in footnote format, then have him keep you so late that you're 20 minutes late for your next class.

Well, 20 minutes late is too much so I decided to leave. "I felt impotent and out of control, which I really hate. I needed to find sanctuary in a place where I could gather my thoughts and regain my strength."

So I resurrected my old school-year tradition by cuttling class and whiling away the time at nearby Mandolin Bros!

I limped in and headed right for the Ricks. The usual suspects: C-series 325's, and the odd used 4003. But I must have caught the lovely Janet's eye - the same Janet who has sold me countless guitars and personally took my 5002v58 order all those months ago - because she said "Hey John - you'll never guess what we got in!"

My heart sank into my stomach as she led me to the mandolin room. There it was - a Fireglo 5002v58 hanging on the wall.

Absolutey mint. Checked the serial number - '05. Checked the price - more than reasonable. Checked the case - original, all candy, plus gold bridge cover, which was not on the mandolin.

Needless to say, my mood suddenly shifted.

Couldn't have come at a better time, either - especially after a weekend where I simply couldn't put Graham's MG 5002 down!

I pick it up in a few days. Image

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 10:42 am
by ozover50
Wow!!! What a way to end a really ****** day!

Congratulations, John...... go nuts on it, mate!! Image

Looking forward to pics..........

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 10:54 am
by sloop_john_b
"It's a small world after all..."

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 10:59 am
by jdogric12
Wow! What a story! You might be a writer after all Image That is great news. So now, what are you doing with the one on order??? Image

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 11:04 am
by 8mileshigh
That's great John! Way to go you Image

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 11:30 am
by charlyg
WOW! Awesome! Dood!

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 11:33 am
by sloop_john_b
Thanks guys! The one on order is, well, still on order. It was placed May '06, it's Fireglo.

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 12:00 pm
by mrs_brown
Congrats John... some people have all the luck when I have a lousy week all I get is a lousy week!!!!

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 12:11 pm
by blueflamerick
Congratulations John. I bet that mandolin is one of the ones I have a picture of being made during the 2005 So-cal confluence factory tour.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v385/ekutzler/Rickenbacker%20Factory/08_mandolins.jpg

College sucks, but when it gets you down just remember that it's still better than a full-time job.

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 12:22 pm
by leesh
SOOOO Cool! You were rocking that mandolin in SoCal!

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 12:56 pm
by mrs_brown
Does that mean you will have it at the next MARF?

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 1:01 pm
by dswp
A small world indeed John. Congratulations!!!

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 1:38 pm
by ajish4
Congratulations John,

AND, I want to hear It's A Small World on that baby! Image

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 1:52 pm
by dlandau
Congratulations John! I hope you keep the one on order so you can have it for the bathroom! I was told the other day that something else might be coming to the store. If what Denny says is true, your jaw will definitely drop.

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 1:57 pm
by kcole4001
That's great news!
Sometimes it pays to follow instincts.
Image