In Which Eric and Peter Give Me Some Joy Back

Last night I got home in a foul mood. A so-so day at work topped off with the fact that my boss' beloved dog is dying from cancer and an extended family member of my colleague's Nancy's died of prostate cancer that afternoon. Ernie picked me up and as we drove home he regaled me with Owen and Leo's issues du jour. Sigh.

I walked in the kitchen to hang up my coat and saw Owen playing some game on the computer that had giant naked baby looking things tromping through the streets. I giggled and he got mad. I said, "Oh, for God's sake Owen there are giant naked baby looking things tromping through the streets, I can laugh if I want to." He told me I was being hurtful. I countered with a pissy, "Have you done your homework? I thought we'd agreed you'd do your homework early." He said, "Why do IIIIIII have to do my homework early and Leo doesn't?" and stomped angrily upstairs.

You get the drift.....it kind of, uh....evolved, shall we say, from there. Ernie built a fire in the fireplace and handed me a glass of wine. I looked at him with tears in my eyes and hated the whole world except him. Then he reminded me that Eric Brace and Peter Cooper were doing a Stage-It. I sighed and said I didn't know if I was even in the mood. Ernie looked slightly alarmed at that because that is so unlike me. I shook myself, sighed, and said we should listen because it would probably help. And God help me....they gave me some joy back. Damn I love them.

Thanks boys.

This is from the first time they played at our house. It's a stunning song and it's also from the newly released Hangtown Dancehall from Eric Brace and Karl Straub, featuring performances by Kelly Willis, Tim O'Brien, Darrell Scott, Jason Ringenberg, John Wesley Harding, and Andrea Zonn. It's a tremendous work and I highly, highly recommend it.