Pleasantness!

EXCELLENT EVENTS OF THE PAST 18 HOURS, IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER:

1. Stomping Grounds outside, under an awning, watching the rain, drinking iced green tea
2. Rebecca and I running from Stomping Grounds to Chicha Shack through said rain, covering our heads with stolen newspapers
3. Joining up there with Elias and Evan for apple chicha and excellent conversation
4. And then to Evan's back porch for continuation of good vibes
5. Getting off work early today due to storms
6. Going home and making good, organic tomato soup, and a havarti/whole wheat grilled cheese sandwich
7. Putting on Thelonious Monk while watching rain
8. Reading Richard Brautigan under a blanket drinking tea and wearing a flannel shirt

ALSO:
At the suggestion of Alissa "Pretench" Anderson, six favorite songs as of late:

1. Thelonious Monk-- Suburban Eyes
This is the best jazz piece to listen to on rainy afternoons, and thus has been running in my head lots lately

2. Bob Dylan-- Tangled Up in Blue
Best daytime driving song ever, and a truly great summer song

3. Sun Kil Moon-- Gentle Moon
A perfect song to listen to when you're really depressed, and it won't make you feel better, but it will make you at least feel really, really hopeful

4. Beck-- Guess I'm Doing Fine
Walk around late at night in a bleak, rust belt town and listen to this song (or, for that matter, any of Sea Change), next to a stoplight and be enlightened.

5. Sufjan Stevens-- The Tallest Man, the Broadest Shoulder
If I wrote a musical, this would be the main number

6. My Bloody Valentine-- When You Sleep
Whereas Dylan is great for daytime driving, anything this pretty and feedback-laced is perfect for night driving