I’m still kind of coming off of the generally pretty great rock star/Guest of Honor experience at Balticon 53 last weekend, where The Humdingers played some great shows, I had some pretty decent meals, got sorta drunk with Nebula and Campbell award winning author and scientist Greg Benford, and got to hang with some friends I don’t get to see very often.

Combine that with the other big news about my booking the “Special Filk Guest” slot at Atomacon in November (an honor I’m much appreciative of but still kind of coming to terms with), I almost resisted being yanked back to mundane reality by having to sit several hours on an acquisition review board briefing (along with begging for approval for my particular project’s contract to go forward) upon my return.

Oh well, my business area is pretty routine, and given my contracting background, my documentation was on point, I made my case and got my blessing within about three minutes. Still had to sit around waiting for most of two hours for my turn to come up.

Otherwise, it’s been normal stuff – mowing the “lawn”, doing laundry, riding the bike in the 100° weather, and the occasional novelty of giving the cat her ear infection medication. Oh, and our A/C is doing it’s biennial “I don’t feel like it” routine…thankfully, it’s under warranty and probably doesn’t need much anyway, but the guy can’t get here until Wednesday to take a look at it.

Weekend plans are kind of in flux at this point; I’m off on Friday for “appointments”, and there’s talk of hanging with the soccer hooligans on Saturday (and helping our young friends celebrate their wedding anniversary), and perhaps (if it doesn’t break the budget and the weather holds) hitting the VA Ren Faire Sunday; we’ll see.

Otherwise, I’m considering my options and doing research to fill my knowledge and experience gaps in recording in order to meet my self-imposed (perhaps lofty) goal of having some sort of limited-run CD recorded, mixed, and pressed in time to have something to sell to my theoretical adoring fans come November. I have six months…I think I can handle it, and have plenty of brains to pick for advice should I need it. I’ll get it done.

Speaking of music, here’s this week’s playlist, interesting in the fact that it totally avoided the Zappa/Donnas/Bowie continuum (maybe Pandora is learning), but went heavier on the Tull than usual. Otherwise, it’s a lot of indie and 80s new wave, plus the BNL song that both blew them up huge, and also kinda prompted my declining interest…I’m such a hipster.

1. “Sanctuary” – Ian Anderson
2. “In A Big Country” – Big Country
3. “Powder Blue/Cascine Park” Yumi Zouma
4. “Tainted Love (Re-Recorded)” – Soft Cell
5. “The Scratch” – 7 Year Bitch
6. “All On My Mind” – Anderson East
7. “Everybody Wants To Rule The World (Extended Version)” – Tears for Fears
8. “Sweet Dream” – Jethro Tull
9. “Tides” – Swimming Tapes
10. “Pumped Up Kicks” – Foster The People
11. “Black Ice” – Kitten Forever
12. “One Week” – Barenaked Ladies
13. “Entering Eternity” – Falconer
14. “Out of Touch” – Daryl Hall & John Oates
15. “Under The Milky Way” – The Church

Oh- friends heading to Concarolinas this weekend, have a great time!