And You Were Always There To Catch Me…

*This was written on Tuesday, but I had not time to edit it until today; Michael’s been on the computer working every moment this week.*

It is the End of an Era… Today at 12:50pm I traded in my beloved iPod. The love I had for it was rivaled only by my affection for Mr. Henderson, my beautiful Sony boombox from high school. But the iPod (I wish I had named it; this post will feel like an action film… all product placement dragged in by the teeth) has gotten so old and balky that it only worked while plugged in. For the past year I’ve made do, but I miss music too much to not have it be portable, so the time has come for us to part.

Ipod and I first met in the Apple store in Soho in July of 2005. My cousin, Marcela, and I would get together if I was in New York to drink sangria and visit MAC. I had saved $300 from tips and, because there was no Apple store in Louisiana, this was one of the Must-Dos of this trip. We were introduced by a staggeringly handsome man with a nose-ring and several tattoos (this was less common than it is now; then it still felt like a downtown thing) and it was Love at First Pick-up-and-hold. The feel and weight and heft… all perfect.

We went back to Nola together, but due to my technical inadequacies I did not figure out how to set up my iTunes before Katrina came, the first weekend of August. When Dan and I evacuated to northern Louisiana, I took 2 tank tops, 1 cardigan in case it was chilly at night (amazing how certain habits hold even in extreme situations), 1 lipstick, my cellphone charger and the John Adams biography by David McCullough. Three hours into the drive I realized how foolish I had been not to set my iPod up and bring it with me; what better time to be able to carry all your music with you than when evacuating to a strange house? A couple of days later, of course, we realized that we could not go home and that everything might be lost. Throughout the uncertain wanderings of the next couple of months, the iPod was my constant regret; what better time to be able to carry all your music with you than when wandering homeless across the country? I have never been without it for more than a night at a time since.

Those of you who followed my New Orleans blog will have seen many tributes to my iPod’s unerring sense of occasion, good taste and tact on the many days when I felt lost or unmoored. The music that it selected for me was as much a part of my life as the smell of the night-blooming jasmine and the feel of a cold bottle of beer held to my forehead, to the point that it often felt as though the songs that it was “randomly” selecting were messages from a universe that was clearly caring and concerned if it could take the time to speak to me in such beautiful and appropriate melodies. On one occasion it played a song to let me know that an unhappy love affair was over, an unpleasant truth I had not yet articulated to myself. On a particularly bad day, it reminded me that I was standing on the edge of something good; a loving message from a kindly guardian.

Like myself, once in Montreal and Philadelphia, the iPod became more utilitarian than romantic; I appreciated the company we kept together on the bus to my early morning shifts at Starbucks or walking along the river to the train, but the selections now feel more friendly than oracular. My new iPod, Slick, will accompany me on sunny walks and stir my blood on chilly days and companionably sustain me while I write medical summaries. That I can carry so much music in my pocket is miracle enough and I don’t take it for granted. I am now clear-headed and happy enough to feel as though I don’t need musical signposts pointing me in the right direction, but I have no doubt that, if I do, the shuffle button is still there and the music is always there to catch me when I fall.

The Earth Is Warmer When You Laugh…

Let’s try something new. I love sending things in the mail, I love music, I love reusing things rather than discarding them and, all 7 of you who read this, I love you! So, I’m going to start a Random Giveaway; it will be more book-oriented in the future, but today it will be music. Here’s how it works…

Last night Michael and I, being at loose ends for something do and completely averse to spending Friday night in a restaurant or bar (too crowded) walked over to Old City and splurged at AKA, a High-Fidelity type record store and then Book Trader, a used bookstore. AKA always yields excellent results in the Used $.99 CD bins. Book Trader is not our favorite bookstore; it’s one of those very big, dusty places that have a huge inventory, but there’s little care put into their selection. However, they’re open till midnight, so we’re often there on a Friday night, before or after the movies.

Anyway, when we got home, I put all my new cds onto my iPod, so now I have no further use for the cds. Rather than donate them to the Salvation Army, I would love to send them to you!

1. Ben Lee Awake is the New Asleep: I discovered him in New Orleans, on a mix one of my co-workers used to play while our boss was out and we were trapped in the house, unable to leave in case we were needed later. Very open-hearted, full-throated, happy, hippie music. I only know 2 songs, so hopefully the rest will be equally good.

(Sidebar: I absolutely recommend that you do not watch the videos; just listen. Nothing ruins a song so quickly as a stupid music video and, with a very few exceptions, there isn’t any other kind).

Listen to Catch My Disease… yes, absolutely ridiculous title, but adorable song!

2. Nick Drake Bryter Layter: I only know the song Northern Sky, but I bought the album on the strength of the song. I am confident you’ll agree.

Listen to Northern Sky.

3. Professor Longhair Rock ‘n Roll Gumbo: Professor Longhair is the patron saint of Tipitina’s in New Orleans. I’ve most worn out Crawfish Fiesta, so a new one is welcome. I don’t know the songs on the new album, so I’m going to link an old and characteristic, which you’ve probably heard… and also one of my favorites… can’t resist!

Listen to Red Beans or Bald Head.

4. The Verve Urban Hymns: So, we’re all sick of Bittersweet Symphony, right? WRONG! I will NEVER be sick of that song. Can’t explain it (don’t shake your head at me, StoreyMan). Still, even I can admit it’s probably a one hit wonder. But I recently found a song in my iTunes that was very pretty and when I looked it up, it was the same people. Seemed worth a shot. I’ll put both, just in case there is someone out there who doesn’t know Bittersweet.

Listen to Bittersweet Symphony or Sonnet.

5. Tears For Fears: So, Sowing the Seeds of Love is one my Top 5 albums ever. This one came out a couple of years later, with much the same lineup. The 2 songs I know, I loved inordinately when I heard them on a Best of album. I get that they’re not everyone’s angst. But they’re often just so weirdly beautiful.

Listen to Goodnight Song (I wanted to up Break It Down Again, but all the versions on YouTube were live, so the quality was no good. The only version with good quality sound had been set to a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie. It’s on YouTube, if you dare! And the song is bizarre and amazing).

6. Iron & Wine The Creek Drank the Cradle: Impulse buy after hearing a pretty song in a sushi restaurant years ago. The name stuck in my head, even if the song didn’t. But, fortunately, epic win. The first song, straight off the bat, is exquisite. Folk? Indie folk? I have no idea. But gorgeous. I cannot wait to hear the rest of it.

Listen to Lion’s Mane (I’d recommend headphones; it’s prettier quiet).

There you are! If you want any of these, let me know which one in the Comments and I’ll mail it to you the next day. I’m pretty sure that I have everyone’s address, but if not, I’ll e-mail you for it. What fun!

I Think I Might Know You Too Well…

Can I tell you the cutest and, at the same time, the most horrifying thing that Michael has ever said to me? While discussing dialectical materialism or something similarly elevated, Hall and Oates came up, like they do.

Quoth Michael, “What ever happened to him?”

Quoth I, “Who ‘him’?”

Quoth Michael, “Holland Oates.”

Quoth I, “You mean, ‘them’. Hall and Oates.”

Quoth Michael, “Oh, I thought it was a ‘him’.”

At this point the quothing came to an abrupt end when I began making a sound like the Shrieking Eels, only more righteously indignant… but while I was pretending to be mad (seriously, you should know who Hall and Oates are), inside I was secretly proud of him… Could he be any more adorable?

These past couple of weeks have been busy, to say the least. I’ve stayed an hour or so late 3 nights out 5 and I came in today at 7 instead of 8:30 and plan on doing the same tomorrow. I don’t get paid enough and the work is absolutely unappreciated, but… sigh… it does need to get done and I don’t see any other way. However, this state of affairs should only last another week or so. First world problems.

My New Yorker reading has been derailed somewhat by Wilkie Collins. I loved, loved, loved The Woman in the White, I liked The Moonstone (too procedural and while the solutions were ingenious, the plot was a little creaky), but now I’m halfway through Armadale and damn, that’s some suspenseful stuff. Sample line: “No matter, ” she smiled ironically, “within half an hour, I shall be your widow.” Ooooh, Buuurn! I love it! The best part of Wilkie Collins is how fully realised every character is; he uses a lot of first-person narrative, like letters, and the tone is always absolutely pitch-perfect, no matter who is speaking.

I’m still at work now and the office is quiet. Tomorrow it will be 68 degrees; I already know what I’m going to wear! See you then!