I took the bulk of the week off to rest, clean, and spend as much time writing as I could.
I finished several of the small essays and newsletters I’d been putting off, as well as started a new zine in honor of International Zine Month. I haven’t gotten around to trying any of the prompts from Stolen Sharpie Revolution’s list but may complete two or three of them before the month’s end.
As for music, I took a break from the bulk of my listening this past week. I really needed it before the next four or five weeks of concerts, shows, and zine business. I’m seeing Lampland, Helenor, h. pruz, Men I Trust, Hiding Places, and probably a few more I’ve forgotten, all in the month of July. I’m booked solid and very much looking forward to all of them!
Instead of an essay, here’s a little poem I wrote—
“Blur”
Let's take a walk around the block And stare awkwardly at our shoes. My eyes lose their focus next to you. Standing shoulder to shoulder blade, Black leather blurs into yellow suede. I don't want to know who we'll be yet. I just want to live in this moment. To watch you watch me Like a fly on the wall. To learn exactly what it is You find so enthralling.
Here are the albums I listened to all the way through this past week:
Public Places (2016) by Nat & Alex Wolff
Steve McQueen (1985) by Prefab Sprout~
Since (1998) by Richard Buckner



Don’t think I’ve ever purchased an album and not listened to all of it.
I’m 63 so there have been a lot of albums but it’s too much of a risk not to.
Even the most garbage of albums might just have a gem in it that you could miss forever.
I bought Rain Dogs by Tom Waits 3 days ago.
As I was listening to it, I thought, this is ok but its not really doing it for me.
then the 17th of 19 tracks came on.
It was Downtown Train ( written by him and a writing partner) made famous by Rod Stewart in the late 80s in typical pomp of the time.. This original version blew my mind.
At the end I played the whole album again straight away. And can’t stop playing it.
I’m obsessed by the the album, it’s a masterpiece.
Wish I could make a couple of those shows!