Stray kitties in the rain. My mini backyard is a playpen for the neighborbood strays, of which there are many. I hear them running around on the roof of my bedroom sometimes. They sit there so peacefully in the pouring rain, I can't help but adore them.

G has the bubonic plague, so by mutual agreement I'm staying in JC this weekend, which is fine as it's given me a chance to play with my new Shuffle. I got it for Christmas, a total surprise, and there's no going back. It's changed everything! I don't have to listen to people beg for change on the subway anymore! I can drown out annoying conversations too! I love how it makes all the usual subway noises so ethereal, like the "bing bong" of the door closing, almost like it's part of the song but not quite. I got an iTunes gift card too, which has made for some interesting explorations. Felt, but no Smiths?? Anyway, I guess the cool thing to do is let people know what's on your iPod, so here goes. I can't make a screen shot of the iPod screen since I don't have a screen, and I don't know how to do it from the library so here's the manual version:

1) Dismantled King Is Off the Throne - Felt
2) Sunlight Bathed the Golden Glow - Felt
3) You're Kidding, Aren't You? - Field Mice
4) Won't Make You (Sleepy) - Lilys (in their luscious shoegaze mode..mmmm. This song sounds like it's right off a My Bloody Valentine EP)
5) Ahead - Wire
6) In Vivo - Wire
7) Red Carpet Blues - A Northern Chorus
8) Nick McCabe Dub - Mellow
9) Heart Cooks Brain - Modest Mouse
10) Stereo - Pavement

So there they are - the first songs loaded into my Shuffle (not counting the ones loaded into it at Gs). Kind of reminds me of getting my first CD player, and my very first CDs: Born in the USA and Whiplash Smile (Billy Idol). HA!!