Another week, another series of December surprises, office drama, one or two little wins, and for whatever reason, not a lot of sleep.

But, it’s almost over. I’ve got the balance of my forty on Friday, a weekend with very little planned, and a handful of days left to work for the year before I take the holiday break.

And, those days ought to be quiet, because as the public servant habit, eight-tenths of the entire workforce are already burning their use-or-lose, and with the one week extension that got passed Thursday means that leave won’t be disturbed until at least next Friday.

Shutdown Blues.

Still, the end is in sight, and I managed to burn off a little stress Thursday evening at the Art Factory open mic my friend runs, and while it wasn’t my greatest set ever, I did get to avenge the murder of Joni Mitchell’s “River” at the Kilt last week by backing up a ridiculously talented young vocalist singing it this week.

I’ll take the win.

Like I said, not a lot on the agenda this weekend. Holiday prep I’m really not invested in anyway has the energy level and the bank balance low; maybe a mind-clearing hike in the woods and a grocery store bar beer to offset the laundry requirements, but honestly not much else.

Tunes this week? Kinda everywhere, but I do dig that last one, mostly because it’s half Waxahatchee, and I’m always a sucker for Katie Crutchfield…:

1. “Never Been To Spain” – Three Dog Night
2. “The City” – Mark-Almond
3. “Expectations” – Lo Moon
4. “A Million Miles Away” – The Plimsouls
5. “The Light of Day” – Kacy & Clayton
6. “Don’t Mind (feat. Robert Plant)” – Patty Griffin
7. “You & Me & The Bottle Makes 3 Tonight (Baby)” – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
8. “Jesus, etc” – Nora Jones
9. “Dreaming My Dreams With You” – Bria
10. “Run It” – My Morning Jacket
11. “Sugar” – Amethyst Kiah
12. “Dry in the Sun” – Daryl Hall & John Oates
13. “Problem With it” – Plains