Weeknotes: September 23-27, 2024
Monday, September 23
The second day of autumn. That's the title of a song my brother wrote in the early '90s and I always think of it on the day after the equinox. In the evening, K and I drive up into the northern suburbs to see Vampire Weekend at Meadowbrook Music Hall. I brought a blanket, but we rent lawn chairs and sit in the cool damp evening, drinking gin and tonics and listening to Ezra Koenig's keening voice pierce the hill.
Tuesday, September 24
Work and school. I didn't expect to be so busy. It's been a long time since my first try at college and I'm honstly surprised by the workload. I think I just didn't do it the first time around which is probably why I dropped out. Dinnertime is my only real break and I savor the quiet process of preparing a meal and listening to an audiobook. Before bed I dig into Leif Enger's Virgil Wander (actual book, not audio). I finished I Cheerfully Refuse last week and loved it so much I immediately went back to the library for more. Is there anything better than discovering an author and tearing through their entire catalog?
Wednesday, September 25
The Tigers continue to surge toward an unexpected Wild Card playoff berth. They heated up in August and became a baserunning powerhouse. From 2002 to around 2014 I was an adult fanatic of my childhood team. After that my fandom waned and by the time Miguel Cabrera retired at the end of last season, I barely knew any other players on the team. I'm happy to jump back on the bandwagon, though. No shame in that. Seasons come and go, but baseball has been a constant throughout my life. I keep my kitchen radio and another portable one tuned to 97.1FM so I can listen to the game throughout the house.
Thursday, September 26
At work I review Billy Strings' new Highway Prayers album. I'm not really a bluegrass guy, but he's from Michigan and came up through the regional folk scene, so I feel some kinship towards him. It’s also co-produced by Jon Brion whose L.A. pop pedigree is unmatched. It's a fun record and I appreciate that he named a track after the Seney Stretch. Later, after class, I work with my friend Rishi to tighten up the mixes for my latest project, then spend an hour or two refining my cover design. It's getting close.
Friday, September 27
Rows of mums are lined up outside the grocery store in a band of rustic fall splendor. Bags of cinnamon-blasted pinecones announce the season from 30 feet away. I buy three potted mums and one ornamental cabbage. I’m most excited about the cabbage. I buy one every year. Last year's cabbage made it to mid-January before freezing solid. I remember cheering it on through my front window during every hard freeze and snowfall. What a performance!