Fleetwood Mac

It’s shocking how the media can manipulate us. All it takes is nearly non-stop publicity for the new Fleetwood Mac album — commercials, web pop-ups, reviews in every single magazine, a couple of stories in the Times — and the next thing you know, I’m in a Fleetwood Mac mood. Okay, I have always loved the late ’70s version of The Mac (said with an ironic twist that lets you know I don’t actually refer to them in that way, except with a wink, and yet with a tone that also informs you that back in my day, back when they were new, yes, we did call them “The Mac”). And it’s not like Britney and Christina and god only knows what else don’t get the same treatment, and that treatment doesn’t make me think: You know, I need to hear some relentlessly stupid, overly glossy, utterly forgettable teen pop. Or, if it does, I go old-school and put on The Partridge Family. (I guess that’d be old-school-bus.) (If you don’t get that one, don’t read this blog. It’s not for you.) (The point isn’t whether it was a bad joke, the point is . . . oh, forget it.)

And so, I’ve been in this Fleetwood Mac mode for a few days. I’ve had “Rumours” on CD for years, but never got “Fleetwood Mac”, partly because half of it bored me. The other half, however, is hot summer nights with the AM radio blaring in the ’72 Pontiac Ventura, out past curfew and drinking Boone’s Farm along the riverbank, and the songs are pretty good, too. So: Apple Music Store to the rescue! I bought only the songs I wanted, popped them in the iPod, and now I’m a happy man who’s been missing Christine McVie’s voice for far too long. (She’s sitting this reunion out, so I will be, too.)

So now I’m just another pathetic grown-up heading toward his 25th high school reunion playing exactly the same music he was playing when he flipped the tassel. I SWEAR I listen to new music! I’ve got The Hives! I love The Donnas! “Don’t Worry Kyoko” was the best fucking rock ‘n’ roll record ever made! (Oops, sorry. My rants appear to have switched wires.)

Many races coming up, not sure which ones I’m going to do. I’m under extreme subordinate pressure to finally do the Corporate Challenge 5K, and despite my extremely lax training regimen this spring (such as, I haven’t run OUTSIDE yet), I think I can do well enough not to embarass myself. Then there’s a 25/50/100 mile bike race on June 8 that I’d really like to do, and Hannah’s got the Freihofer’s coming up. Summer’s too damn short around here.

Mr. Johnson has never actually listened to all of “Tusk,” but he is thinking of doing so.