Done did it

So the era of Ruthie has come to an end. My beloved 1st generation iPod now is living the good life of retirement, metaphorically sitting on a beach somewhere sipping wine coolers and wearing a straw hat. She must go inside soon, though, as she has a scrapbook club meeting at 6. Metaphorically.

Now beginneth the era of ... my new iPod! As yet unnamed! I had the name Ruth Ann all picked out and ready, but it turns out my new iPod is Japanese, so I've decided she needs a Japanese name, which will require more research on my part. She is the brand-spankin-new kind, 30 gigs (because I decided the 60 gig was a bit too chunky and heavy -- not that there's anything wrong with that -- to be as portable and non-purse-weighing-down as I wanted), wide-screened and white. And happily, this iPod already seems able to read my thoughts and understand my tastes. Today on the drive into work we had a nice Stacey Earle-to-Steve-Earle-to-the-Del-McCoury-Band-to-a-Stacey-and-Steve-Earle-duet sequence. Bravo!

Unfortunately, all your great engraving ideas were for naught. I ended up having to buy it at a Tokyo Apple Store, which doesn't do engraving, because the online and phone versions of the U.S. Apple Store were too overwhelmed with the complex idea of an American living in Japan to accept the $300 I was trying with all my might to give them. So I gave up, and the new iPod was purchased on my lunch break yesterday with yen, in a transaction that involved lots of bowing. So far I am enjoying my new buddy mightily, and when I come up with her name, you'll hear it here first.

Speaking of hearing, today IS Friday, and there IS one new release worth mentioning. It is the Strokes, who are releasing "First Impressions of Earth" via RCA on Tuesday. And in the interest of full disclosure, I also must reveal my guilty (VERY guilty) pleasure in anticipation of the U.S. release of a greatest hits compilation from the now-broken-up Savage Garden. Yes, yes, I know they're incredibly lame, but I just can't help myself -- the radio MUST be turned up and all conversation ceased when "Truly Madly Deeply" comes on. I know. But what, YOU don't have a guilty pleasure? Mmmm, hmmm. That's what I thought. So shut it.