It was a bit of a struggle to get here, I must say. This week’s been rough. Found myself in a bit of a down cycle on the depression continuum the last couple of days. I think I might see the way out of it, but it’s been a hard road the last 48 hours or so. I’ve got a weekend coming up with no formal commitments, so I’m hoping for a little rejuvenation. I always find my way out of these little digressions, so I think I’ll be alright.

I’m also kind of hoping to hear that my car’s ready, though given my luck so far, I’m tempering my expectations. The insurance will eventually get tired of paying for the rental, which will probably motivate the eventual closing of this transaction (yes, I sort of conflate the insurance company and the body shop, but my insurance company has a “concierge office” inside the shop, so they’re kind of one in the same in my head). I’m still debating about whether I call them today. We’ll see.

Work is still in transition, but the reorg is starting to kick in, so the new status quo is sorting itself out in terms of who I need to report to when and what they need to hear. Looks like I have about six bosses again, which really means I don’t have any bosses except the project schedule, so as long as that has some actual direction to it, I’m left alone to do work my data miracles. This is a circumstance I’m comfortable operating in, so I’m cautiously optimistic. Time will tell.

Finally, Dragon*Con is starting to become a real thing in my head, being about two weeks out. We’ve got our tentative performance schedule (including a concourse show this year!), and I’m just waiting for some setlists (though I kind of know where those are going). It’ll be nice to knock the dust off the Humdingers tunes after playing with those other guys this summer, and wrock the pants (or other garments…it can be that kind of party) off of D*C for a third year running. Also, word on the underground is that Valentine Wolfe might join us on stage for a couple of tunes…that’s gonna be a blast.

So yeah, life’s kind of low right now, but it’s on it’s way to getting better. To celebrate the coming weekend, here’s a handful of tunes Pandora spit out. Kind of obvious and unremarkable until you get to the back third, but hey, sometimes life gives you exactly what you’d expect (especially when you get to set the streaming music service channel parameters).

1. “The Ledge” – The Replacements
2. “And We Danced…” – The Hooters
3. “Silly Little Man” – The Badlees
4. “Losing My Religion” – R.E.M.
5. “The Safety Dance” – Men Without Hats
6. “Summer of ’69” – Bryan Adams
7. “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” – Guns ‘n Roses (the studio version, not the live one 🙁 )
8. “The Godfather” – Harry and the Potters
9. “Pretty In Pink” – Psychadelic Furs
10. “West Coast” – Coconut Records
11. “Don’t You Want Me” – The Human League

(edit) – so, it looks like there are actually eleven tunes here. I’m okay with a random Eleven now and then.