And they’re off! (Nearly)

We’re toast here. On the homestretch of prepping for nearly a couple weeks worth of down time that will be lots of driving as we hate airplanes and like the road. Having stopped fooling myself that eight-year-olds can appreciate scenery I’ve been stocking fodder for the portable DVD player…plus we’re passing through Texas. Twice.

Packing, for H.o.p., means two bags full of toys. And then there’s a third bag full of drawing paper and pens (done). And a fourth bag for his clothes (done). He figured out (he thinks) a way to get around my not letting him bring a third bag of toys. He pulled a number out of one bag that he says must come along but can’t be bagged “as they must be able to breathe” and refilled the bag with others that haven’t such delicate constitutions. I try to pare down and consolidate but we’re still going to be stuffing half the household into the car.

H.o.p. is so excited he’s literally bouncing off the walls like an old-fashioned pinball game. Pow, pow, pow from one end of the apartment to the other he ricochets. “We’re going on vacation!”

It never occurred to me that the nearest Borders wouldn’t have Ennio Morricone (none!) and our old CD of it is shot. So I’ve ordered through Amazon 2 volumes of Ennio and Yo-Yo Ma plays Ennio which will be waiting out West for us by the time we get there. Besides our having satellite radio this time around, here’s what else we’re packing music wise:

Cannonball Adderly – Country Preacher
James Brown – 20 All Time Greatest Hits
Telegram – Sessions at 800 East
Roy Rogers compilation
Tom Waites – Mule Variations
Heston – Storybook (unreleased)
Doc Watson compilation
Yo-yo Ma – Bach Cello Suites
Yo-yo Ma – Mozart Quartets
WuTang – The W
Kanye West – Late Registration
Common – Be
Mos Def – The New Danger
Outkast – Idlewild
Busta Rhymes – Greatest Hits
Bob Dylan – Blonde on Blonde
Wood Brothers
Chinese Music compilation
Moroccan Street Music
The Musicians of the Nile
Gnawa Music of Marakesh
Reny Ongala – Songs for the Poor Man
Paula Pima
Grupo – Fundo De Quintal
Dave Bartholomew Collection – Volumes 1 and 2
Wu-Tang Clan – 39 Chambers
King Curtis – Live at the Filmore West
Jimi Hendrix – Electric Ladyland
Jimi Hendrix – Are You Experienced
David Bowie – Heroes
Elvis Costello – My Aim is True
Bollywood compilation
Nina Rota compilation
Yo-yo Ma – Brahms Cello Sonatas
Rza – Bobby Digital
Jerry Cantrell – Boggy Station
Tom Petty’s Greatest Hits
White Stripes – the first two CDs
Ultimate Petula Clark
Brian Jones presents The Pipes of Pan at Jajouka
Isaac Hayes – Black Moses
Catastrophic Audio
Carl Perkins and NRBQ – Boppin’ the Blues
Led Zeppelin – Houses of the Holy
Bob Dylan – Modern Times
Bob Dylan – Love and Theft
Bob Dylan – Another side of Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan – The Times They Are A-Changin’
Bob Dylan – Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan – Desire
Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti
Thelonius Monk – This is Jazz 5
Eugene IV – Starving Artist
Arvo Part – Misere
Tom Waites – Bone Machine
Sasha – Percussionata Project
Tom Waites – Real Gone
Brian Eno – Ambient 4
David Bowie – Ziggy Stardust
David Bowie – The Man Who Sold The World
Steve Earle – Jerusalem
Steve Earle – Revolution
Neil Young – After the Gold Rush
Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Weld
Johnny Cash – American 1 – 4
Sly & The Family Stone Greatest Hits
Robert Palmer – Sneakin Sally Through the Alley
Natasha Atlas – Halim
Natasha Atlas – Gedida
Sergio Mendes – Four Sider and Fool on the Hill and Timeless
The Very Best of Ray Charles
Ray Sings Count Basie
James Gang – Rides Again
Dead Presidents soundtrack
Reservoir Dogs soundtrack

My plans are to eat my fair share of good southwestern food, ogle rocks, and somehow avoid bad coffee.

Ciao until When.