Music shuffle meme

music shuffle meme (as tagged by avocado_tom)

Here's what you do:

1. Turn on your favourite media player and turn your shuffle feature on. ( iPod)
2. Hit "play" and keep track of the next 10 songs that come up. (If you have iTunes, you can make a smart playlist that will automatically list your most recently played selections.)
3. Post your 10 shuffled songs, along with these instructions. You are not allowed to lie, omit tracks or otherwise try to make your musical taste seem hipper than it actually is.
4. Tag five people on your friends list to do the same.

1. "Time" by Tom Waits. Album: Rain Dogs
2. "On the Old Mountain Radio" by Mum. Album: Please Smile My Nosebleed
3. "If You're Not Scared (Remix)" by K's Choice. Album: Extra Cocoon - All Access
4. "Forever is Tomorrow is Today" by David Gray. Album: ?
5. Beatles 1969 Christmas Record
6. "Creaky Noise in G# Minor" by Chiral (aka asmodean451). Album: ?
7. "Uncle Walter" by Ben Folds Five. Album: Ben Folds Five, I think?
8. "Lamplight" by Jump, Little Children. Album: ?
9. "Massive Attack - Unfinished Symphony (Perfecto Mix by Paul Oakenfold)" by Daddy G. Album: DJ Kicks.
10. "Wild Montana Skies" by John Denver, duet with Emmylou Harris. Album: The Rocky Mountain Collection Disc 2.

Tagged: webnesto, momothemonster, mercurialcirce, headlouse, tankgirlh.

The long, hot drive east

From Topanga Canyon, California to Scottsdale, Arizona took me just about eight hours. The time was no big deal, but the heat was another matter entirely.

BonBon, as fantastic as she is, has no air conditioning. She has standard roll-down windows and wing windows on both doors, and a sliding window in the back of the cab. She also has vent air (basically straight intake from the outside) and vent heat.

When you're driving at 80 mph through the low desert of California and Arizona, rolling the windows down doesn't really help. It just blows the hot air more forcefully into your lungs, your eyes, your very being. It at least helps to dry off the constantly-forming sweat, but it also contributes significantly to hearing loss.

In Blythe, California, just a few clicks shy of the CA/AZ border, I stopped at an AM/PM. Lured in by $3.08 gas (contrasted by $3.55 gas across the street at the Shell station - um, HUH?) I purchased a gallon of cold water to refill my camelbak. The nice lady at the cash register smiled and rang me up, and when I told her "Yeah, it sure is hot, and I don't have AC!" she looked at me like I was crazy. "You live HERE?" "No, I'm from San Francisco, driving to Phoenix." She nodded, and urged me to speed through the desert as fast as possible. She told me to grab a big cup of ice for free.

After munching down my PB&J sandwich in the shade of BonBon in the Arco parking lot, I set off to finish my trip. I arrived in Phoenix just in time to sit down to a home-cooked meal at my great uncle's house. And now, comfortably ensconced in the air-conditioned bliss of my Grandmother's house, I'm finally starting to feel whole again.

Did I mention I'm headed to Death Valley on Monday? Bring it ON!