Hasn’t been a terrible week, all told. I got some nice hiking in, had a pretty good open mic this month, made some new friends in my usual Thursday trip to have a drink at the grocery store bar, listened to the “new” Replacements record that just came out, and got some really good advice from some folks on EQing and mixing that’s really tightened up the record, which, if all continues to go well, I’ll have sent out for duplication before the week’s out.

It’s certainly been good enough to overcome the less pleasant stuff, both usual (the office continues to be frustrating) and unusual (I shall spend part of today at a memorial service for the parent of a family friend).

Even if the good did outweigh the bad, I still had a couple of days there where I felt off for no particular reason; having difficulty summoning enthusiasm, even for things that usually get me decently excited. Oh well; I shall persevere. Depression is weird sometimes.

Otherwise, I’ve been continuing to watch our national shitshow (that letter to Erdogan had me double- and triple-checking to ensure it wasn’t satire; an interesting inversion of Poe’s Law, perhaps?), keeping up with current events like the debate (weird one, though Warren held her own, mostly), and the impeachment thing (feels like the administration’s major defense is refuge in audacity), and sadly mourning Elijah Cummings; he was one of the good ones.

The weekend looks pretty typical, with dance husband/dad duty on Saturday morning (it’s another town festival – ’tis the season) and maybe an open mic my friend is hosting tonight (if I can overcome what’s described in the third paragraph above). Otherwise, shopping/cleaning/laundry/cat petting.

In any case, tunes. Another good “Weekly Discovery” playlist from Spotify Little more 90s “altenative” than one would expect (though “Hunger Strike” was a highlight of that period, certainly), but some neat underground 80s stuff, Elton John at his most prog and self-indulgent, and Spinal Tap. Go rawk out:

1. “Right Here Right Now” – Jesus Jones
2. “Cleveland Rocks” – Ian Hunter
3. “Feel The Pain” – Dinosaur Jr.
4. “Scared Straight” – The Long Winters
5. “When You’re Falling” – Afro Celt Sound System
6. “Cars” – Gary Numan
7. “Oogum Boogum” – Alex Chilton
8. “Melt With You” – The Monthly Trades
9. “Hunger Strike” – Temple of the Dog
10. “Walking Down Madison” – Kirsty MacColl
11. “Funeral For a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding – Elton John
12. “Big Bottom” – Spinal Tap