On the main, this entire week’s just kind of blurred by; work day full of meetings and PowerPoint slides, headlines full of doom, gloom, and gridlock, brisk walks in the woods to clear the head, clean-the-cabinets sort of dinners, and watching a program or two on the TV before going to bed.

Y’know, the usual.

A couple of reasonable high points, though. The annual work appraisal cycle wrapped up, and my meeting with the boss went well; it’s nice to have one’s efforts rewarded. A significant salary increase (edging toward 10% when one works in the alchemy of locality adjustments) and a pretty nice cash bonus that’ll certainly help with the long-overdue refresh of the kitchen we’ve been contemplating. Plus, y’know, a nice pat on the back and further instructions of “keep on doing what you do!”

Though I sometimes feel like a simple cog in a huge machine, which, I guess I am, it feels good to have someone tell you you’re doing a good job and that you’re appreciated.

Elsewhere, I got a note from my insurance guy, who did his regular review on my files and identified an opportunity to save like 40% annually on car insurance. There are currently four drivers on my policy, two of ’em under 25, so my bill is not insignificant. Needless to say, I jumped on that s**t.

So, assuming nothing else breaks and the family doesn’t find new and interesting ways to increase expenses, thanks to these developments and a few others I lined up over the past few months, I should enter this third year of this pandemic with improved cash flow, and I feel reasonably okay about the books around these parts, which is cool, at least until I find a way to twist circumstances into new and interesting stressors; which, as we all know, is my superpower.

Ideally looking at a quiet, uneventful long weekend, since the usual MLK weekend Marscon escape got postponed. I think I’m just gonna chill; I rather deserve it, and…really…just look out the door at all those infection vectors.

As far as what “Discover Weekly” spit out this week on Spotify, a nice mix with a little prog, a little alt-country, a touch of 80s/90s alternative, a chunk of indie and wrapping up with what’s possibly the most funkified John Prine song in the universe:

1. “Losing True” – The Roches
2. “Life Is A Carnival” – The Band
3. “Saturn We Miss You” – Trip The Witch, John Anderson
4. “The Sun Hasn’t Left” – Modest Mouse
5. “Stand For Myself” – Yola
6. “Motorcycle” – Liz Cooper
7. “Wide Open Spaces” – Soccer Mommy
8. “Crutch” – Band of Horses
9. “Domino” – Shovels & Rope
10. “What Do All The People Know?” – THe Monroes
11. “Dear Prudence” – Siouxie and the Banshees
12. “So It Goes” – Nick Lowe
13. “Saddle In The Rain” – John Prine