I’ve been staring at a blank page for two days, unsure what to write, the brain stuck on where we’re about to head as a country, a culture, a community. A reporter’s job is to question and distill. What do we see, what does it mean, why is it important — what I once heard a consultant call “early pattern recognition.” I thought I had a bit of that. Then came Tuesday. I was so wrong about so much. More General Custer than General Patton. What does this election say about us? What’s the next right thing to do?  FIND A SMILE Insight from sage Austinian Evil MoPac . Evil MoPac, Wednesday. HANDS IN THE SOIL  I’m standing outside, the rain made the flowers pop, the okra’s still producing…  A mentor taught me when worry clouds the mind, pull back from the future to the moment. Focus on where you are, the immediate surroundings. What’s tangible, what’s real. Last spring When we plant, we connect to a timeless seasonal cycle. Seeding something to look forward to. REACH OUT,  LIFT THE SPIRIT r/Austin This reddit thread has some great suggestions , and we welcome any of yours. We need each other. We need connection. Because what comes tomorrow…..welp, this is where I close the computer, walk outside and put my hands in the soil. Experimenting with winter peas. SHAKE THAT ASS Kerry Awn’s sketch of the band, circa 1974. The Austin funk band Extreme Heat celebrates 50 years with a  Saturday evening show at the Saxon Pub followed by an anniversary celebration a few doors down at TexPop, behind Planet K. Front man Bruce Spelman’s shared many a story with Happy Heat , and the band also anchored the very first Happy Heat Road Trip last fall.  Check out this Austin Chronicle write up , and then check out a bit of living history this weekend.   Extreme Heat’s Bruce Spelman and House of Lepore’s Nicotine, Happy Heat Fall Road Trip , photo courtesy Jason Mellard. On we go. Alan Berg, Publisher. *quotes and interviews occasionally edited for clarity. How are we doing? We want to hear from you. Take this quick survey and help us make Happy Heat better. Go see something, tell us about it, we’ll share more stories next week. Let’s build something together. We’d be forever grateful for your help, and an easy way to do so is by subscribing to the Happy Heat Substack. What comes in goes right back out in artist commissions and live shows. To which you’ll get to come! For the first 100 subscribers, we are offering 20% off forever. Get 20% off forever