On an even hotter day....

Today, I checked the weather on my phone to see what the temperature damage was to be today. It hit over 100 degrees. You probably have understood by now that I don't deal well with heat. Sometimes I get cranky, mostly I just get lazy. It's like I can't seem to drink enough water, and I wouldn't dream of turning on the stove. For days like this, it's kinda fun to break out some cheese, meats, slice up a baguette, a handful of kalamata olives, and some carrots or tomato slices and make yourself a party platter. Usually, I only eat these things while holding a fancy cocktail and I'm in the company of friends - but the simplicity of this is almost romantic and is really nice to do just for yourself. I notice that I slow down while eating this, I play around with pairing the foods, I pour some cheap wine, and turn on some music and enjoy the food.

Speaking of music, I've toyed around with how to write about this topic. I listen to music wherever I'm at. I have music that I've heard in movies and commercials, I've walked up to registers at stores asking what is playing on the speakers, I've asked to see Ipod playlists at food cart windows, and I have a growing Itunes list that has over 3,000 songs and a CD library that takes up 4 large plastic boxes. I listen to music when waking up, while cooking, while I was figuring out what to write in proposal responses, while putting together presentations, driving, reading, running, and sleeping. During this last 'bout of job searching and cover letter editing, I have made many playlists, and my Itunes DJ has gotten a serious workout. I figure, the best way right now to write about music is to at least tell you what I'm listening to.

Right now, the breeze has kicked up, and outside I can hear blues music playing at a nearby party. I just popped in a piece of bread that was soaked in olive oil with just the right amount of tangy bite from the balsamic vinegar, finished with a salty piece of salami and crumbly sharp cheddar, and besides what I can hear outside - these are the sounds that are filling my apartment. If you want to sample them, try Itunes or Amazon.com. Also, for those of you trying to find out what was playing during a TV show or on an advertisement, go here: www.adtunes.com. I have found TONS of music on this chat forum.

The Magnetic Fields - Never Make You Stay
Kruder and Dorfmeister - One and Only
Coldplay - Yellow
Tori Amos - A Sorta Fairytale
Beck - Broken Drum
Fatboy Slim - Rockafeller Skank
Count Basie - Lester Leaps In
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Is This Love?
Prince - Take Me With You
Norah Jones - Sunrise
The Dining Rooms - Dreamy Smiles
Benny Goodman - King Porter Stomp
Modest Mouse - The Good Times are Killing Me
The Busy Signals - Futon Hopper
Cat Power - Metal Heart
Doves - Melody Calls
Bjork - Wanderlust
Gotan Project - Epoca
Ani DiFranco - Akimbo
The Republic Tigers - Fight Song
Magic Bullets - Heatstroke
The Clash - Straight to Hell
Working for a Nuclear Free City - 88
Mr. Scruff - Get a Move On
Girl Talk - Can't Stop
The New Pornographers - All for Swinging You Around
The Sound Providers - Autumn's Evening Breeze
Deerhunter - Never Stops