Babylon 5

I've begun watching my DVDs of the final season of "Babylon 5", and I'm trying to remember at what point I began watching the show. It's been some years, but as far as I can reconstruct it must have been very late in season four or the beginning of season five. Unfortunately, the issue is muddled by the fact that I began watching reruns of earlier seasons at about the same time. I think, though, that my first episode must have been season five, episode two: "The Very Long Night of Londo Mollari".

It may not seem like anything to worry about, but it sheds light on something for me. I've always, at bottom, seen B5 as Londo's story. Of course, there are many other plot lines and many other personal trajectories in the story - G'Kar's, in particular, is almost equally compelling - but Londo's development commands my attention in a way that no other storyline does; and I think I was predisposed to that by the fact that the first episode I saw focused on his past, and his confrontation with his own sins. By contrast, the major transformation in G'Kar occurs much earlier, and I did not see it until several weeks later. (I was astonished at the viciousness and self-centeredness of his presentation in the early episodes. Londo's buffoonery was less of a shock; something of that was still present until very late - as best I recall, it persisted until his confrontation with the Drakh.)

I haven't gotten very far yet - I just watched 5.3, "The Paragon of Animals" - so I'm not going to say much more at the moment. But this is the first time I've seen these episodes since they first aired, and watching them knowing both what came before and what was to come is... different. Better, I'd say. More on that after I've rewatched the whole season.

I took Ben to the vet for his shots and bloodwork yesterday. Getting him out the door and keeping Murphy in was a struggle, and I'm going to have to do it three more times in the next couple of weeks. (Murphy has to get his shots and bloodwork Monday, and then I have to take each of them in for their dental appointments.) They called me this morning to report that the bloodwork is fine, but they do want me to give Ben antibiotics for a couple of days before bringing him in for teethcleaning. He's not young, after all. (I've never known just how old he is. When I got him from the Humane Society, they had him tagged as six months old, but I've always doubted it. I've had him for about nine years and figure him to be about ten; the vet guessed that he was ten to twelve.)

Still working my way through The Count of Monte Cristo.

Music

I feel the need for more music.

I've been thinking about my CD collection, and noticing some definite gaps that need filling.

I have a Billie Holiday album, but nothing by Ella Fitzgerald.

I have a Kingston Trio album, but it doesn't have "Tom Dooley", and I'm not satisfied with the recordings of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and "When the Saints Go Marching In".

I have a three-disc set of Gene Pitney's songs, but none of them include "E Se Domani", "Hawaii", "The Last Two People On Earth", "Garden of Love", "Walk", or "Follow the Sun".

My Petula Clark album is excellent, but it doesn't have "Two Rivers".

I don't have anything by the Beatles, and my one Stones album doesn't have "Satisfaction" or "Kicks".

I don't have any early Joe Cocker.

I have one Linda Ronstadt album, but not "Blue Bayou" or any of her work with the Stone Poneys.

I need more Moody Blues and Carole King.

I don't have anything by Blood, Sweat and Tears.

America, Boston, Chicago and Kansas are missing.

I want some Cyndi Lauper, Mister Mister, and Mike & the Mechanics. Spandau Ballet. Mannheim Steamroller. Whatsername who sang "99 Luftballoons". (Ed.: Nena. Thanks, hornedhopper)

Dolly Parton. Skeeter Davis. Tammy Wynette. Patsy Cline.

More Al Stewart. More Heart.

whine.