We’re hitting that interesting time of year. Work, thankfully, is slowing down as all of my fellow public sector bureaucrats start burning their use-or-lose leave and leaving the halls of power empty (or emptier than usual, given the fact that so many of us work remotely now). The co-worker I’ve been unofficially mentoring for the last year or so wrapped his year yesterday, and won’t be back until after MLK weekend. Trips to the store for the various bits and bobs we need to keep the house running are full of holiday music and chattering Karens and Chads; it’s not a particularly pleasant experience, so I’ve been trying to keep these trips to a minimum and during off-hours. I’m doing okay so far.

I’m getting the holiday shopping done, though we’ve made the household decision that since everybody got a big shiny new place to live with lots more space, we’re scaling down the gift budget and investing further in the space. Sure, we’ll get some things we like, but it’ll mostly be about making the new environment more livable for all of us, and we’re generally okay with that.

Looking back over the last couple of weeks, the gig at the Kilt last Thursday went well; Had a decent turn-out, including a few new friends, hit most of my musical marks, and did okay on tips. I’ll take it, and things look good for them having me back before long. While I joke that Thom the brewmaster books me now and then so that I’ll keep coming in for my regular pint, I’ll admit it’s honestly nice to have a “local” where, as the theme song goes, everybody knows your name, and you can count on there always being someone to have a friendly chat with after a busy day.

And I’m glad my neighborhood public house is doing well, because the community’s lost a few over the last couple of months as rents get higher in profitable neighborhoods and the craft beer scene matures and changes. I had my final pint at Castleburg a few weeks ago, as Karl closed the doors this month on the place that took a chance on a guy like me to host a monthly open mic that I was proud to be a part of and make successful for a good long while back in the Before Times™.

This time of year and my unfortunate brain chemistry lead me toward rumination on the concept of loss; people, places, concepts, feelings, both real and aspirational. I don’t know why, exactly, but I do. The holiday season from late November through the end of the calendar year, while definitely a period of rest and recovery, is always tinged with a bit of wistfulness and sadness, especially in cases where actual losses come into play, like they have this year.

I’ve raised a glass to the memory of more than one person and place in the last couple of weeks, and it’s not always easy, but I do my best to persevere, remember the good times and make the best of what the world tosses my way, and see what I can do to make it better for someone else.

Anyway, that’s what you’re getting out of me today. Here are some tunes the algorithms pulled together based on where my musical tastes have wandered recently:

1. “Second String” – Vanilla
2. “Imposter Syndrome (feat. Lzzy Hale)” – Sophie Lloyd
3. “Devil Teasin’ Me” – The Commoners
4. “Radium Girls (Curie Eleison) – Rachel Sumner
5. “Girls are the Best (feat. Tanya McCabe)” – Kyle Gordon
6. “Tighten The Reins” – Lions in the Street
7. “Halcyon Days” – Fever Dolls
8. “Always Wednesday” – Aurelio Voltaire
9. “Dead Man’s Party” – Oingo Boingo
10. “Pour Some Sugar on Me” – Postmodern Jukebox
11. “Dance With Me” – Los Lonely Boys
12. “Girl on the Billboard” – Brian Setzer
13. “Wild”- Kelsy Kartner & The Heroines
14. “This Is Now” – Ann Wilson & Tripsitter