So I was reading the archives on Snow’s blog and I stole an idea for a post. The suggestion was made to set your iPod to “shuffle all music” and then report back on the first twenty songs that play. Here’s my list. It speaks volumes.

1. For Those About to Rock — AC/DC
2. You Don’t Seem to Miss Me — Patty Loveless
3. Popular — Original Cast Recording from Wicked
4. Apron Strings — Everything But The Girl
5. Desperado — The Eagles
6. Pulling Mussels — Squeeze
7. Pride and Joy — Stevie Ray Vaughn
8. A Girl Like You — Hal Ketchum
9. Crazy Love, Vol. II — Paul Simon
10. Moon River — Andy Williams
11. Friends in Low Places — Garth Brooks
12. This Kiss — Faith Hill
13. Mr. Bojangles — Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
14. Beach Baby — First Class
15. I Know You’re Out There Somewhere — Moody Blues
16. General Lee’s Solitude — Gettysburg Soundtrack
17. Who’s Your Daddy — Toby Keith
18. Suite Judy Blue Eyes — Crosby, Stills & Nash
19. TWA Recruiting Sergeants — Schooner Fare
20. Roll Me Away — Bob Seeger

Most of it, I’m not even embarrassed about. (well, I’m also thankful that nothing too goofy showed up) But honestly, I listen to all kinds of music and I think the list reflects that. I could tell you stories about most of those songs and why they’re even on the iPod in the first place. I will tell you that #10 is the song that Dale and I danced to at our wedding.

While we’re thinking about iPods, I have an odd story about mine. Many iPod owners insist that their iPod knows them – it plays just the song they need to hear as if it knows their mood – the device is somehow intuitive. Mostly, I think that’s a lot of bunk. I mean, I’ve got about 1500 songs on my iPod (yeah, I can fit another 8,500 on there but I’m not sure there’s that many songs I actually like) and of course they are my most favorite songs. So, even on shuffle the iPod is most likely going to hit on something I really want to hear. Right?

Well, maybe. Let me tell you about the trip to Gettysburg that Dale and I took last November for Remembrance Day. My iPod was about 2 months old at the time and I had loaded up most of my favorites and some of Dale’s, too, just because I’m that kind of wife. Now, Gettysburg is about a 7 hour drive from our house and Dale kept waiting to hear some music from the Gettysburg movie soundtrack. It’s some of his favorite stuff in the world and he figured since we were driving to Gettysburg that’s what we should be listening to. But, I was insistent on leaving the little sucker on shuffle and just seeing what came up. The iPod didn’t play any Gettysburg soundtrack music at all for 6 hours and 45 minutes. Not a single track. Until we saw the sign that said “Entering Gettysburg” and suddenly the iPod played a track from the Gettysburg soundtrack. Dale thought I had set it up but I hadn’t. It just spontaneously played Gettysburg as we entered Gettysburg. Pretty much freaked us both out.

So, that’s my eerie iPod story. Anybody else out there with an iPod or MP3 player that wants to share their random 20 songs? Or a “my iPod knows me” story?

Mason and Dixie say, hey, knitbloggers, relax this weekend. That’s what we’ll be doing.

http://caroleknits.net/2005/09/09/937/

I know that I have been bombarded with options for donating money for the hurricane victims. I’m online constantly, I’ve been watching the news, and I’m connected with the amazing and generous knitblogging community. But I got to thinking that maybe some people just haven’t been asked to donate. Maybe they want to donate but don’t know how. Or maybe they’ve already donated but wouldn’t mind donating again. So, I asked Dale what he thought about taking up a collection at his concert this past Sunday night and he agreed that it was a great idea. I thought maybe we would get $100 or $200. Imagine my surprise and delight to collect this:

That’s what $360.40 looks like. And that’s what the fans of Dale and the Duds donated for Katrina Relief.

Now, I’ve sold plenty of raffle tickets over the years and been involved with various fundraisers. But I’ve never asked people to just hand over money and I honestly wasn’t sure how they would react. I thought I might feel weird or shy but people were overwhelmingly generous and there was nothing awkward about it. Nearly everyone there gave something.

You know what I didn’t anticipate? How incredible it would make me feel to collect this money. The generosity and charity of others – when it stares you right in the face – is pretty amazing. There was the gentleman in the wheelchair, who had limited use of his hands but still managed to put his money in the bag. There were countless little children eagerly handing over dollar bills. There were families and old people and young adults all giving generously.

As I walked through the crowd I could hear parents explaining to their children what the collection was for and how it would help. I could hear conversations about what it must be like for the victims and how it must feel to lose everything. And I contemplated how lucky I am to be whole and safe. I have a home and my family and my pets while so many others have lost everything.

And while I collected those donations I was given an incredible gift for my own self. I realized that the human spirit is generous and loving and kind. People are good and when we all work together we can accomplish great things.