On Megadeth Retiring

Dave Mustaine is calling it a career. I never thought I’d read that in the news. Then again, I never thought I’d hear that Ozzie died. That news walloped me. The Megadeth news just made me determined to catch them on their final tour. It’ll be more than a celebration of music. It’ll be a reflection of where I was in my own life when each of their albums over the last few decades dropped.

I always admired how fiery Mustaine remained throughout the years. Most artists have a relatively short shelf life. It' isn’t easy to maintain the passion required to drive you into the limelight. We’ve been experiencing painfully diluted versions of Metallica, Nine Inch Nails, and Foo Fighters for years, if not decades. Megadeth, surprisingly, has kept their releases steady and consistent. It’s been headbanger after headbanger, right to the end.

The final album drops early next year. What pressure for the new Megadeth guitarist: it’ll be his first and last Megadeth album. At the same time, what an amazing position to be in.

Daylight Savings

The clocks will move back an hour on Sunday, meaning the sun will set at a later hour. I’m looking forward to that because a longer day is one of the first signs of spring. Budding flowers are soon to follow.

About a month ago I bought a season pass to Alamo Drafthouse cinema, my favorite movie theater chain. I’ve been seeing a lot more movies in theaters. It’s been nice returning to the weekly ritual of going to the movies. The theater feels as much like a home to me as any place I’ve lived.

Rock band Ghost released a new single, “Satanized,” which features an excellent chorus. “Save me from the monster that is eating me.” I have that line stuck in my head.

Regarding “dialing things back,” I’m looking to relax more in the upcoming months, especially after my next marathon. Exercise in particular can be a grind and it’s too easy to fall into the trap of asceticism, a trap laid well by the Protestant work ethic. Leisure is underrated. I aim to do more cycling, but “relaxed” cycling. Riding for the sake of getting fresh air.

I feel as though I’ve reunited with some of my old creative writing peers. Hopefully that provides some inspiration…