Not-So-Fondly Fahrenheit

The thermometer in the north porch reads 100F+. NWS says it's actually in the mid-80s. Whatever. I took the dogs for a walk, and when I came in, the metal clasps on their leashes were hot to the touch. We've been inside for almost an hour, and Buster is panting so hard he vibrates.

I was planning on making a batch of boeuf bourguignonne this week, but I think that may be too heavy a dish for this weather. I may just pick up miscellaneous fixins at the store, and cobble together random stuff for meals.

Cole Porter had the right of it: it's Too Darn Hot.

Sunday Music: The Best of Joan Baez

Album Title: The Best of Joan Baez

Why I Bought It: For "Diamonds and Rust", mainly.

What I Like (Don't Look Back): "Diamonds and Rust". Just a wonderful song, recognizing a) what we had is wonderful but b) it's over. "You're telling me you're not nostalgic / Then gimme another word for it / You who're so good with words..."

What I Like (Thanks): "Gracias a la Vida". The full opening is "Gracias a la vida / Que me ha dado tanto"; the rest of the song names what-all "tanto" covers. I have a soft spot for songs like this; see also Janis Ian's "Thankyous".

What I Like (Best Wishes): "Forever Young". A song of blessing.

What I Don't Like (Goofs): "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down". Two negative points. 1) Toward the end, encouraging the audience to sing along with the chorus, she calls out "Follow the bouncing arm!" Just no. 2) More geekily: she sings "Till Stonewall's cavalry came and tore up the tracks again". For one thing, Stonewall (Jackson) was an infantry officer; for another, he sure as hell wouldn't be tearing up tracks in Confederate territory. It wasn't until I heard The Band's version that I realized the correct name was Stoneman - right army, right arm.

What I Don't Like (Funny Voice): "Simple Twist of Fate". For some reason, she puts on a husky pseudo-Dylan voice for this one; it just doesn't work for me.

Overall: There's some good stuff here; besides the WIL songs above, there's "Please Come to Boston", the slightly silly "Children and All That Jazz", and "Sweeter for Me". But I've never much liked "Imagine", and "Prison Trilogy" is too heavy-handed. I suspect I liked it better in the '70s than I do now.

Smart Cookies

An addendum on the heat: I just came out of the computer room, after a lengthy session of Civ IV and websurfing. I found both dogs curled up in the main bathroom, which is a) one of the four rooms in the house with a tile floor as opposed to carpet, and b) the only room in the house without a window.

Not stupid, my pups (much though I may grumble to myself about Gracie).