Waiting for the Plumber
Category: Kitchen Sink...
Posted Monday, September 05, 2005 at 11:47 AM [GMT-6]

[Notice how "Waiting for the Plumber" is filed in the "Kitchen Sink" category? Ha. I kill myself, sometimes.]

Not that our lives are ever very exciting, but spending Labor Day waiting for a plumber to come by to snake a plugged kitchen sink line probably represents some kind of nadir for the measurement of holiday thrills. OTOH, having a free-flowing kitchen drain is one of the small joys of life, and yet one more reason why I'm happy not to be living in New Orleans. Well, for that matter, having a kitchen, period, is a blessing, now that I think about it.

Anyway, as long as I've got your yawning attention, let me exacerbate the boredom by sharing with you the results of last week's trip to the iTunes Music Store. It was actually last Monday night, before we knew absolutely of the hell that was about to break loose, but we knew enough to understand it was going to be bad. MLB was at a board meeting, Abbye was crately, and I was restless and needed the distraction of some new music.

Here's what I ultimately downloaded. Draw whatever conclusion you wish about my choices, keeping in mind that judging someone by their musical preferences is infantile and a sign of a moral weakness, unless you like my choices, in which case you are above average in every way and should receive serious consideration for the vacancy on the US Supreme Court (US citizens only).

• Every Little Thing - Carlene Carter - Country pop with a catchy hook from one of June Carter Cash's relatives
• One for My Baby - Frank Sinatra - James Lileks thinks he's overrated; could be, but even overrated he's better than 90% of the other mooks who've tried this gig
• 'S Wonderful - Diana Krall - Consummate jazz singer in a live performance; perfect for soothing frazzled nerves
• Fly Me to the Moon - Diana Krall - See above (seems like there were hundreds of arrangements of this song)
• Just the Way You Are - Diana Krall - I've always thought this was one of Billy Joel's best efforts, and Diana Krall takes it to another level of smoothness
• Man! I Feel Like a Woman! - Shania Twain - More country pop...or is it pop country? I don't care. I like it.
• This Kiss - Faith Hill - See above.
• How Do You Like Me Now?! - Toby Keith - Not a bad response to a overbearing, insufferable, temporarily dominating woman named, say, Katrina
• I'm so Lonesome I Could Cry - Hank Williams & Junior - Can't believe I didn't already have this.
• La Grange - Hank Williams, Jr. - ZZ Top does it better, but this version rocks, too.

Well, the plumber has come and gone, the sink is draining, my wallet is $75 lighter, and Jimi Hendrix is on the 'pod claiming that "I Don't Live Today." And, you know, he's right, in a physical sense. I'll leave you to contemplate the implications. Happy Labor Day!