If you've noticed the new addition to my sidebar (yes, a couple of years later and Deb has added something new here!) you'll probably be as WOW'd as I am about this release. I immediately thought of you Barb...something about every single time the Decemberists are mentioned I visualize you prancing lightly about your kitchen, stirring with a wooden spoon in a large mixing bowl as you make something with oatmeal in it (large flake of course). Anyhow, a wonderful project that raises money for the Red Hot Organization AIDS/HIV charity. I'm going to find it now (for Linds, for her birthday...shhhh, don't tell). Really it's for me though, as the minute she opens it I'll be hijacking it and adding it to my iTunes. And dancing in my kitchen. (FTR: I'm in love with Sleepless and have played it at least 80 times already). Here's the track list:

THIS DISC
1 Knotty Pine – Dirty Projectors + David Byrne
2 Cello Song (Nick Drake) – The Books featuring Jose Gonzalez
3 Train Song (Vashti Bunyan recorded, written by Alasdair Clayre) – Feist + Ben Gibbard
4 Brackett, WI – Bon Iver
5 Deep Blue Sea – Grizzly Bear
6 So Far Around the Bend – The National (arrangement by Nico Muhly)
7 Tightrope – Yeasayer
8 Feeling Good (popularized by Nina Simone) – My Brightest Diamond
9 Dark Was the Night (Blind Willie Johnson) – Kronos Quartet
10 I Was Young When I Left Home (Bob Dylan) – Antony + Bryce Dessner
11 Big Red Machine – Justin Vernon + Aaron Dessner
12 Sleepless – The Decemberists
13 Stolen Houses (Die) – Iron and Wine
14 Service Bell – Grizzly Bear + Feist
15 You Are The Blood – Sufjan Stevens

THAT DISC
1 Well-Alright – Spoon
2 Lenin – Arcade Fire
3 Mimizan – Beirut
4 El Caporal – My Morning Jacket
5 Inspiration Information (Shuggie Otis) – Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
6 With A Girl Like You (The Troggs) – Dave Sitek
7 Blood Pt 2 (based on original song “You are the Blood” by the Castanets) – Buck 65 Remix (featuring Sufjan Stevens and Serengeti)
8 Hey, Snow White (Destroyer) – The New Pornographers
9 Gentle Hour (Snapper) – Yo La Tengo
10 Another Saturday (traditional song) – Stuart Murdoch
11 Happiness – Riceboy Sleeps
12 Amazing Grace (traditional song) – Cat Power and Dirty Delta Blues
13 The Giant Of Illinois (Handsome Family) – Andrew Bird
14 Lua – Conor Oberst + Gillian Welch
15 When the Road Runs Out – Blonde Redhead + Devastations
16 Love vs. Porn – Kevin Drew

I've missed you guys, but have had to take a bit of a break during the glorious sunshine here to reacquaint myself with my bike/walking shoes. I've been at the river daily and it's been wonderful. I'm liking this unemployment just a wee bit too much and, hello, could someone please get those lotto numbers right so I can do this fulltime. Please?

Dad just had another surgery last week, which also explains my absence. He's doing well - this is run of the mill for us now. I told the lady at the desk to go take a break, I could register him in and get him prepped. But he's all stapled up and being his usual stubborn self (trying to vacuum)....I actually had to wrestle the thing away from him.

Linds hates her new school (I don't blame her - it's lame). Her teacher's a moron and when you've had the pleasure of being associated with the wonderful staff at her old school, it's a hard act to follow. We're trying to be patient, but c'mon - her teacher doesn't know how to spell!? There is no room for individuality/creativity and Linds feels completely overwhelmed and stifled there. Her teacher's new handle is Ms. Manclown (a twist on her name - yes, I know...I'm as mature as the banana in my fruit bowl). The only good thing is that she's hooked up with a great counsellor whose attitude is "just get by - I'll help you with that". Her old counsellor is also networking with this guy in an attempt to get her through so, although it won't be perfect, she has some people to support her in her quest for survival there.

Well, off to the record store (do they still have those?).

I will try and be more regular here because I truly do miss you guys when I'm away. It feels like months.