Freaking New England. A week ago, there was frost on the car in the morning; this week it’s bouncing off of 90. Regardless, it looks like Summer’s here.

This is my garage. Boats, bikes, bottle opener, and a bluetooth speaker. Smells of tools and wood. There’s an old wingback chair that one of the neighbors was throwing out with a broken leg and faded upholstery that I snagged and repaired. It’s a terrible chair in many ways – definitely has a funk from the garage, humidity, and gasoline, and is hopelessly covered in cat hair from when we exile the cat to the garage when he’s being loud at night.

But, it’s what I’ve got. Nice place to sit after the kids start to wind down, door open, watching the neighbors stroll by. Tunes used to be decent computer speakers; now it’s a bluetooth speaker – place to charge the phone, and it travels with me out to the garden and to the back porch and front porch for meals and rocking chairs.

This is what counts as happiness to me – a comfy seat, a good book, and some quality tunes. Tonight’s been classic alt-rock.

“Won’t Get Fooled Again” – The Who. Able to initiate teenage angst from 60 paces.

“What Goes On” – The Velvet Underground, 1969 Live. I really can’t count how many times I’ve played this entire album, let alone this track. iTunes puts the number at 128; I cannot comprehend that it’s that low. 9 minutes straddling the fine line between awesome and chaos – this song is everything that made the Velvets amazing.

Then, specifically because I’m about as Gen X-y as they come, we’ve got to throw in “Superman” by R.E.M. Except, it doesn’t look like there’s an official link on YouTube. If you haven’t heard it, go to REM’s audio player, look for “Life’s Rich Pageant”, and play the last track. Meanwhile, enjoy “Orange Crush”.

For the last bit, I’m going to give you just a fraction of Wilco covering “Don’t Fear the Reaper” from their awesome 2013 covers show at Solid Sound at Mass MoCA. Pick up the whole show at Wilcoworld – much else on there including “Roadrunner” and “Get Lucky”. Exceptional to hear a legendary band having fun with their favorites.

So, that’s it for tonight.