tam laid down the challenge, far be it for me to disappoint. and besides i’m entirely too lazy to write about the actual reading that spawned the HUG FELT ROUND THE WORLD.

1. Total amount of music files on your computer:
according to iTunes there are 2673 songs weighing in at 11.59 GB that would take me 6.7 days to listen to

2. The last CD you bought was:
probably Paul Westerbeg’s Folker and Tommy Stinson’s Village Gorilla Head (i bought them on the same day

3. What is the song you last listened to before reading this message?
R.E.M – “I don’t sleep I dream,” but for the records i’m listening to the radio and i find it absolutely hilarious that it’s an R.E.M. song. because tam loves R.E.M. the way i love paul westerberg and the ‘mats.

4. Write down 5 6 [i don’t do fives] songs you often listen to or that mean a lot to you:
“If I Fall” by the Dixie Chicks. I’m not a huge chicks fan on their own. but there are so many good memories and feelings wrapped up in their music, and specifically that song because it reminds me of my most beloved princess jaycie.

“I Will Dare” by the Replacements. really, we’ve been over this like a million times.

“The Sound of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel. when i was like 14 or 15, there was an episode of “Fame” that featured that song. it was the first time i can ever remember hearing it. of course my parents actually owned a Simon and Garfunkel record (the only one i can ever remember them having) but i never actually listened to it. until i heard this song on that show. i fell in love with it. and as we were watching that episode i caught my mom singing along. i loudly proclaimed how much i loved that song and it was the best ever. and my mom laughed a little sadly and said to me “that was skip’s favorite song.” skip is my biological father.

“My Boyfriend’s Back” by The Angels. When we were kids my dad used to sing this song all the time, especially if we were all getting ready to go somewhere.

“It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” by Billy Joel & “The Tide is High” by Blondie. When sister #2 and i were young (maybe 9 and 7), our cousin Laurie used to come over and babysit. she was probably about 14 at the time. she was the most beautiful, exotic, exciting thing on the face of the earth to us. we loved her with that odd passion that little girls seem to love teenagers with. every time Laurie would come over to babysit she’d bring this little case with 45 records in it and we’d spend a majority of our time listening to the records. these two were our favorites. and i remember Laurie making us pause during a certain part of “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” and listen for, as she told us, “him to take a sip of his beer.”

“Portions for Foxes” by Rilo Kiley. i can’t seem to get enough of this one lately.

4.24. What 3 people are you going to pass this baton to and why?
Robin, Kara, and Jackass Jimmy, because i believe that they too might dare.