I was in bed by 10 PM on New Year’s Eve, which is an improvement to last year’s un-celebratory events. And while there was still no “celebrating” of the new year due to me not really caring, my attitude seemed significantly better.
Sadly, I think there may have only been an improvement in my New Year’s “festive” mood because I knew we were housebound due to Wifey’s almost finished bout of COVID. I like to think that is not the case, but we all know it probably is.
I always almost sort of feel bad about not giving a shit about New Year’s Eve anymore because that’s the night Wifey and I met close to 30 years ago.
*ENTERS MAGICAL TIME MACHINE THAT IS SORT OF LIKE BEING ON ‘SHROOMS*
Even back then, I was reluctant to go out on New Year’s Eve, but two old high school friends convinced me that a night out on the South Side of Pittsburgh would be better than sitting around my bedroom in my parent’s house listening to The Smiths. I still can’t believe I caved, but I would probably STILL be in that bedroom listening to Louder Than Bombs if I hadn’t.
So we go out, end up at the now-closed Nick’s Fat City, and run into some folks my buddy Eric went to law school with, one of them being Wifey.
I turned on the charm the only way an underpaid graphic artist living in his parent’s house could, and several Rolling Rocks later, we kissed at midnight. Then I proceeded to wait for 2 weeks before I finally asked my buddy for her number, and another 2 weeks before I worked up the courage to call her. Despite those blunders, here we are.
*MAGICAL TIME MACHINE CRASHES TO EARTH*
***
So, for that reason, and that reason alone, I feel bad bout not celebrating the New Year, and I now digress hard and to the left.
So with NYE feeling just like a normal Saturday, I hiked, watched the football, drank beer, and goofed off until going to bed around 10 PM. And that meant that I was up early to coffee up, poop 4 to 7 times, and head out for my daily hike.
Last week had a bit of everything; It started with doing shorter 3-mile hikes in snow shoes, then moved to shitty trail runners with microspikes, got a blister due to those shitty trail runners, missed a day due to said blister, hiked in dry conditions with my normal hikers, and then New Year’s Day I was back to hiking in wet melting snow and slush. Despite that, I managed to hit my self-imposed goal of 25 miles a week.
Then, today I got out for a quick 4-mile (no rage) Rage Hike™, and it was almost like it had never even snowed yesterday.
Now the holidays are over, and it’s back to normal. And while I don’t know what “normal” is for me, I’m stoked to be getting outside to “do stuff,” and still glad I went out that New Year’s Eve all those years ago. Cheers!
***
Photos are from the last two days of woodsy lumbering.
Later.
THE SOILED SOUNDS TRACK/ALBUM OF THE POST
You knew it had to be Louder Than Bombs by The Smiths.
I’ve covered The Smiths here before, and I’m sure I will again because no band in the history of bands has ever influenced me or held my attention like them. Yes, Morrissey turned into a bigger douche than I thought was possible, and while Jonny Marr is still fucking cool, his music can often be a bit too “dad rock” for me. But you can’t take away all those years I “danced my legs down to the knees” in my bedroom. Like many others, The Smiths represented an outlet for music-loving geeks, nerds, freaks, and slackers like me. And while my classmates in high school were jamming to Pour Some Sugar on Me, I was unabashedly singing along to songs about the sun coming out of our behinds and tattooed boys from Birkenhead.
Every single track on this compilation is a banger except for Golden Lights. But if I had to pick one track that still gives me chills after 36 years, it’s Rubber Ring.
“The passing of time
And all of its sickening crimes
Is making me sad again
But don’t forget the songs
That made you cry
And the songs that saved your life
Yes, you’re older now
And you’re a clever swine
But they were the only ones who ever stood by you.”
SOILD SOUNDS NOTE:
Also, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the recent passing of Modest Mouse drummer Jeremiah Green from cancer. Modest Mouse are a long-time favorite of mine, and it sucks that he’s gone so young. Look for more about Modest Mouse here in the near future. Now listen to Trucker’s Atlas and give a shout-out to Jeremiah.
As a coincidence, Johnny Marr from The Smiths mentioned above once did a stint with Modest Mouse and reportedly still works with them now and then