So this is the week where it really felt like autumn dropped. I rode some on my trail along the river (staying off the last couple of days -they’re doing some power line work back there and it’s hard to ride with trucks in the way), and froze my behind off, but I got the exercise (making up for the fast food I ate last weekend) and as usual, it helped my mood a bit, which has been deteriorating, particularly about work – it’s hard to sit and watch a project die on the vine, and feeling like Pandora when nobody’s listened to your warnings for the last year.

I have what looks like a hopefully quietish weekend – the rest of the Humdingers (along with a bunch of other cool folks) are doing the Geek Gala down in Charlotte NC this weekend – I’m hanging back, mostly because I’m having a hard time justifying eight hours or so round trip for a 40 minute non-paying gig (this is mostly a -VERY COOL- nerd flea market/craft show thing – S&K are gonna make bank selling merch and crafts, but I don’t have much to add) and a couple of ad-hoc filk circles, and honestly, it looks like I could use a free weekend, given what’s coming up in terms of work, gigs, dance dad duties, and general other stuff. But, if you’re in the area, you should totally check it out!

So, I’m going to do the usual stuff – groceries, some biking, farmers market, library, maybe some guitar rehearsal with the backup ‘Riffs guitarist if I can pin him down, though tonight, my plans are to sit down with a cold beer and the Spider-Man: Homecoming Blu-Ray that’s been sitting in the house taunting me the last couple of days because I’ve been too busy to watch it.

Oh, I’ve been talking with some very talented musical folks about a cool collaborative project we’re trying to get off the ground again – folks you might have heard of like a certain wizard rock combo, and guys namedJonah and Mikey – but I’m not gonna say any more right now, but I think it’ll be fun.

Anyway, that’s about it from here, except for this latest sign that we are, as I’ve said previously, a nation and culture in decline: apparently, “real” men don’t do wussy things like wipe their ass after they take a dump.

Oh – tunes. Reasonably okay today; #6 is great, not just because it recalls 10 Things I Hate About You, but because Kay Hanley has a great voice and deserves more credit for her totally jerkin’ Josie and the Pussycats.

1. “New Slang” – The Shins
2. “T-Shirt Weather” – Circa Waves
3. “Let’s Get Rocked” – Def Leppard
4. “Stinkfoot” – Frank Zappa
5. “Funeral” – Band of Horses
6. “I Want You To Want Me” – Letters to Cleo
7. “Oh Come On” – The Julie Ruin
8. “Call Me” – Blondie
9. “Stripped (Revamped)” – Depeche Mode
10. “Home Sweet Home” – Mötley Crüe
11. “Don’t Dream it’s Over”- Crowded House

One more musical thing – my friend Metricula, one of those acts playing the aforementioned Geek Gala, is putting out her first record, Songs for Gamers today! This is long overdue; go listen, you’ll dig it.

And yeah, SEVEN DAYS to Stranger Things, season 2!