Furry Harbinger of Death

Dear Heavens. What's not to like about the news lately? For example, they've come up with this winner. It's all about a kitty who lives in a rest home and, apparently, predicts when patients will die. They say that it curls up next to a patient roughly four hours before the person expires. My first thought was how horrified these poor people must be when that hellcat comes a callin. What a nightmare. Elderly, inconsolable people, screaming for that cat to get out get out GO AWAY FOR THE LOVE OF GOD I'M NOT READY. The article clarifies, however, that Oscar, the "furry harbinger of death," puts the death cuddle only on patients who are unconscious or, at the very least, unaware of their surroundings. O Merciful Oscar.

There are a few other fabulous articles floating around this week. For example, this one talks about "obesity networks," where heaviness is inadvertently encouraged by one's social contacts.


And here, faster than you can blame your friends for all the weight you've gained shotgunning butterscotch topping, is today's playlist:

Log for first part of July 26th, 2007 show

Log for second part of July 26th, 2007 show


"Quit yer worrying,
you guys.

News is for losers."








PSSST! It's my birthday this weekend!
Thank god my mother never put me through this.

Impenetrable Mindlessness

I'm currently reading William Manchester's book about the Middle Ages called A World Lit Only by Fire. The very first paragraph has a wonderful sentence in which Manchester says that most of what is known about the Dark Ages (the early portion of the Middle Ages, from roughly A.D. 400 to A.D. 1000) is "unlovely."

He then goes on to describe the era as a time of "incessant warfare, corruption, lawlessness, obsession with strange myths, and an almost impenetrable mindlessness."

Thank heavens that's over!

Just Passed Me By

And here, full of the sultry charm to which you've become accustomed, is today's playlist:

Log for first part of July 19th, 2007 show

Log for second part of July 19th, 2007 show

The Style Council did a fabulous song called "Long Hot Summer" in 1983. It was on their album "Introducing the Style Council" and I wore it out. I believe I'll play them next week.

Cause / Effect

Meow.
















Ow.


















Friends/relatives:
Don't worry. It is a small scrape/booboo.
I just find the trail of blood impressive.

Go-Getter

This

bear

is

getting

things

done.

Run!

And here, faster than a dog named Bullet, is today's playlist:

Log for first part of July 12th, 2007 show

Log for second part of July 12th, 2007 show

Thanks so much to Steve for coming to visit me during my show this morning. He always brings interesting and new music, as well as a few solid, dry jokes. I have a great time with him. You can listen to his show on Tuesday nights from 8pm to 10pm, on 91.3FM, WVUD.

Tag, I'm it

I was just tagged by Leigh. She's a trickster, that one. Now, I'm supposed to tell you

8 Random Things About Me

1. I weighed exactly 5lbs the day I left the hospital as a baby. I think I weighed five and change when I was born, but babies tend to lose a bit the first day or so. I was also two weeks early, which is something I've made up for since.

2. I had a recurring dream as a child that Paul and Linda McCartney lived in my neighborhood and would frequently let me interview them after school.

3. As a very small child, I referred to my brother as "My Andy" instead of just "Andy" or "my brother." It made sense at the time: This is my mommy, this is my daddy, this is my Andy.

4. Each month, during PMS, all I want to eat is a meatball parm. It's been a recurring craving for about five years. I have not had a meatball parm since I was a teenager, though. I don't know why I want one so badly, and I don't know why I always deny myself that stupid sandwich.

5. I like to sing "Minute by Minute" by the Doobie Brothers, as Michael McDonald. It's not a perfect impersonation, but it's not bad and it amuses me to no end.

7. I cannot handle karaoke. If the singers are terrible, I feel awful for them. If the singers are dazzling, I feel awful for them. I have many friends who can and can't sing and they all seem to enjoy karaoke. It shames me to say that I just don't enjoy it. I've done it only once and it was fun, but I think it filled my quota. Now, it seems like it won't be fun.

8. I almost never see famous people. Except this one time, when I saw Vincent D'Onofrio. Just like Leigh.

And now, I tag three others: Ryan, Matt, and Mike Garvey.

Monkey Dulcimer

I helped my friend Ryan move last weekend. His cat has this little monkey toy (it squeaks!) that she loves. She sort of tore it apart and I sewed it back together rather roughly with some black thread. Here is the inimitable monkey, perched on a hammered dulcimer. "Why does Ryan have a hammered dulcimer?", you might ask. I'm not sure, but I suspect it's for the purpose of rocking out.

Interestingly, if you follow the above Wikipedia link and read the definition for "Dulcimer," you'll learn that "Dulcimer" was the code name used for the iPod during production. You can go ahead and whip that one out at parties without giving me or Wikipedia credit. We don't mind. We're cool like that.

And here, faster than you can rip the stitches out of your monkey while gleefully ignoring the death rattle coming from his squeaker, is today's playlist:

Log for first part of July 5th, 2007 show

Log for second part of July 5th, 2007 show




Here is a very somber and artful picure of Ryan's cat, Neko.









Not to be outdone, here is a somber, yet not artful, picture of my beloved, departed sheepdog, Tosh (with her summer haircut). Who would have come completely unglued if she'd ever met Neko.





P.S. This is how tough Philly is: They cancelled the fireworks at the art museum due to rain. They waited a little while, and, though it hadn't stopped raining, they went ahead and did the fireworks anyway. After thousands of people had left. Oh, Philadelphia. You merry prankster, you.

This is Why We Can't Have Nice Things (#2)

Oh, Philadelphia. You fell off the wagon. You were doing a fairly good job of not interfering with my happiness, and I appreciate it, I do. However, you can't go back, Philadelphia. No one wants to see you degrade yourself this way. You don't need to repeat your mistakes. They're done. I forgave you, and I thought we'd both moved on.

Also, geez, what's with all the garbage on the streets? Show some pride, would you?








Okay, enough complaining about Philly's snarky attitude towards my car. Instead, enjoy the site of these kids cooling off on one of those very, very hot days last week. Philadephia definitely has its charms. Some of them are illegal, but still charming.

Click here for "This is Why We Can't Have Nice Things (#1)"

Panda Sings the Blues

The National Zoo in Washington, D.C. thinks that Mei Xiang, the mother of famed two-year-old Tai Shan, may be pregnant again. It's hard for them to tell, as female pandas' hormone cycles can often mimic pregnancy. I took a screen shot of the Panda Cam this morning, and one can see that Mei was relaxing on some rocks. I suspect that she is not pregnant, as this pose strongly resembles the supine stagnancy of every woman I know during PMS. My friend Alli said that it would be more accurate if she had a television remote in her paw.

In other news, it's taken me a while to post last week's playlist.

But here, more satisfying than 40lbs of scrumptious bamboo when nothing else will satiate your cravings, is my playlist from June 28th.

Log for first part of June 28th, 2007 show

Log for second part of June 28th, 2007 show


P.S. Two hours later and there she remains, slumped on that rock. I suppose this could be PMS, abject bear-despair, or actual pregnancy. I'd like to pet her on her head and tell her everything is going to be okay. I'd also like not to be mauled.