friday random eleven: “political wait-and-see, really shitty morning” edition

20 Jan

Good morning, such as it is. Hasn’t really been so far, except that it hasn’t killed me yet, despite at least one earnest attempt. Stay tuned.

I originally said I wasn’t going to belabor the issue of what’s happening today a couple of hours north of me. I then proceeded to add my couple of paragraphs to seemingly endless wasted ink, airtime, and electrons. So be it, here it is:

It’s happening, and what will happen because of it’s going to happen. Doesn’t mean we can’t influence things (and I hope we will). Though I’ve chosen not to agonize over results like so many of my friends and acquaintances. I’m gonna give the guy a chance to fail (likely) or succeed (stranger things have happened…) on his own. We don’t have to like him (I don’t), but as I’ve said before, he’s what we have until we don’t.

As one might expect, I don’t anticipate much good, though I have a strange feeling, based on some of the unsaid stuff in many of the stories in the news, that the complete lack of interest in policy or allegiance to established political positions on the part of the new Chief Executive might throw those of us on the left the occasional bone. This’ll likely be by accident and in spite of the Republican establishment, though I kind of hold out hope that once the White House looks at things, stuff like single payer healthcare might actually rise to the top as the most cost-effective “replacement” for Obamacare.

And if that happens…you know what? I’ll let them take credit and do the victory lap like it was their idea if people get the care they need.

Or it could, as many expect, a complete clusterfuck. That’s the thing, we don’t know. I’m just going to watch closely, but I’m not going to waste any more time wailing and gnashing teeth and wallowing. When there’s something that needs done, I’m going to get out there and do it.

I’m also not going to resist the cheap joke, so I post this, like everybody else of a certain stripe is bound to today:

Okay, that’s enough waltzing around politics. My week’s been weird and unpleasant. My kids have been sick, which has put me off a bit. Work’s been work, with the usual crap surrounding a test cycle and an impending dog-and-pony show in DC next week once the people from the first couple of paragraphs clear out. My friend’s dog died. Some unexpected expenses made money tighter than I’d like for the next week. I’m developing a cough, which can’t be good.

This morning’s been really, really weird and unpleasant. I left for work at the usual time, but ended up turning around after realizing I forgot my work ID (without which I can’t access my computer, or even get onto the facility), and, more significantly, having my nerves totally fried after nearly getting caught up in a big pile-up on the interstate because of a thrashed, disabled vehicle sitting in the middle of southbound I-95 with no lights on it. Luckily, I swerved out of the way (thanks, responsive steering and brakes!), and had a clear lane to swerve into, and avoided sudden highway death due to extreme deceleration.

So, I limped slowly home as my nerves and muscles slowly uncoiled, grabbed my identification card, sat for a few minutes to cool down, hugged my wife, and tried again. I made it to work without incident (avoiding that stretch of interstate), a little later, but alive and more or less resigned to face this already weird Friday and whatever the hell else it throws at me.

Anyway, here’s the music I’m listening to while all that stuff goes down. Got weirdly appropriate there in the back half:

  1. “Ophelia” – The Lumineers
  2. “What It’s Like” – Everlast
  3. “Peaches in Regalia” – Dweezil Zappa
  4. “Pass it Around” – The Donnas
  5. “Don’t Stop Believin'” – Journey
  6. “Ditmas” – Mumford & Sons
  7. “The Hour of Defeat” – Unleashed
  8. “The Man Who Sold The World” – David Bowie
  9. “Money” – Pink Floyd
  10. “Slepp Meg” – Lumsk
  11. “Archie Marry Me” – Alvvays

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