I thought you were home for a while...

Who's asking: Linda Brown, Sherman Oaks, CA

I am, except I'm going to Boston today. Just for the day. Yes, it's a 300-mile round trip, but God willing I won't be doing the driving myself, at least not from Portland; a nice Concord Trailways driver will take care of that. And maybe I'll be able to get a little work done.

Five Random Songs

"Into the Light," X. Listening to this CD (Hey Zeus) is a trip back to the summer of 1993 -- which, when I'm not listening to this CD, I'd tell you I don't remember anything about. It was the first year of the first Clinton administration, and I felt optimistic. I was traveling a lot then, too, but saw X (and a bunch of other bands) at that year's HFStival, at RFK Stadium. That was the 3rd of July, which I remember because they sang a customized version of "4th of July."

"Jesus, Etc.," Wilco. See, I listen to music produced in this decade.

"I Get Along Without You Very Well," Chet Baker. Of course I do.

"Strike Up the Band," The Bob Cooper Octet. I love a good saxophone.

"Procession," Toronto Consort. Instrumental music by Mychael Danna, from the soundtrack to The Sweet Hereafter. Beautiful and stately, as the title suggests, but what I like best about it is that it stops abruptly, as if it had been cut off.