Just when I think we can’t possibly find any more records to add to our collection, we go out and buy a dozen new records to add to our collection.
A good mix of indie favorites and classic rock. Neko Case and The Beatles. Death Cab for Cutie and Jefferson Starship. Duran Duran and Iron City Houserockers. We’re nothing if not eclectic.
The record stores (plural) were the next-to-last stop on a Saturday in Madison that included the Dane County Farmers Market, lunch/cocktails at Great Dane Pub & Brewing, and–of course–Trader Joe’s.
I’m obsessed with the Korean rice bowl from Great Dane, but unbeknownst to us, they were serving a brunch-only menu until mid-afternoon, so I was forced to pivot. When said pivot involves a tasty falafel bowl with blackened chicken, hummus, and tabouleh, the pivoting is pretty painless.
Speaking of pivoting, I’d say that was the theme for last week. We kept changing up plans, partly due to weather (it actually rained on four consecutive days), but also because we’re old now…we’d planned on going into Madison Friday night to catch one of my favorite indie bands, but the 9 p.m. start time sounded less and less appealing. Especially factoring in the two opening bands and the 45-minute drive. A quiet evening at home won out, but I don’t feel too badly given the dozens and dozens of shows we’ve seen over the years, easily 100+. It’s not like I haven’t gotten my fill of good live music.
We did check out the Jefferson County Fair on Thursday. Hadn’t been to one of those in years, and never before have I been treated to “the caviar of the Midwest.”
Cheese curds ARE better than fish eggs hands down.
We didn’t ride any of the rides or play games, but we did eat fried food and checked out a lot of livestock and watched part of a truck pull and people-watched, so all in all, it was a great time. We missed George Thorogood & The Destroyers by one night, but it’s not like I’m a huge fan or anything. I’m just impressed our little podunk county fair was able to snag a headliner who people have actually heard of. We’re thinking of catching the Wisconsin State Fair in a few weeks, if for no other reason than to eat something weird on a stick. Cajun battered shark on a stick? Spaghetti and meatballs on a stick? Steak and eggs on a stick?
Don’t go to the fair if you’re hoping to “stick” to your diet!
The ultimate pivot was my impromptu decision to get a new phone number. I use my cellphone a lot for work, frequently conducting interviews for articles or web content. I was finding that a lot of people weren’t answering when I called because they thought my 605 South Dakota area code must be spam. That isn’t a wild assumption; a bunch of them gave me that very excuse.
So, I figured I might as well just bite the bullet and get a new number with a Wisconsin area code. It’s not like I was super attached to a number I only had for four years anyway. Now I’m the proud owner of a brand new local 608 number, and wouldn’t you know it, the first person I called–one whom I’d spent days trying to reach–picked up on the first ring this time.
Anyway, I was thinking about the old days, when the phone company just assigned you a random number. It’s not like you ever had a choice. Nowadays, you just log into your account and do it all over the phone (how meta). I had two dozen phone numbers from which to choose, from three different localized area codes. It doesn’t get any more convenient than that.
One friend texted, This is the second time you’ve gotten a new number since I’ve known you. It’s like you’re a famous person and the paparazzi are after ya.
I’m hardly famous, but I was on a podcast again. I suppose if real life were like Match Game, I’d be that recurring he-sorta-seems-familiar B-list guest. Not quite a Charles Nelson Reilly or Betty White, but more along the lines of a McLean Stevenson.
Mark My Words 
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