I made a New Year CD for my li’l brother because he listens to entirely too much Brad Paisley and I try to broaden his horizons. I make CDs for my dad sometimes, too, because he loves Rod Stewart far too much, but Dad always hates every last song on every last CD I send him.

When I asked Justin what he thought about the New Year CD, he said it was “weird.” Oh well.

Beanbag Chair Yo La Tengo
… I’m losing every race I run, I’m making misery out of fun.
This is a nice, bouncy song, music-wise. The lyrics are a little down. But it makes me want to boogie anyway.

Beer & Kisses Amy Rigby
… We lived on beer and kisses, all hopped up on love and foam.
Love, love lost, beer, work, prayer. All it’s missing is a dog and a pickup truck, and it would’ve been a CMA shoo-in. I was sure Justin would like it.

We Both Go Down Together The Decemberists
… And while the seagulls are crying, we fall, but our souls are flying.
I like the doomed romance in this song, and I like the way he says “luh-ove.”

Castanets Alejandro Escovedo
… She said she was mine, she told me twice. I like her better when she walks away.
This one is nice and sassy and rockin’, all at the same time.

Quattro (World Drifts In) Calexico
… You have to hit the ground running.
I saw Calexico for the first (and second and maybe third) time when they opened for Wilco a few years ago. Their mariachi-infused rock blew me away the first time, and I was more impressed with subsequent shows. “Quattro” has a slow, sultry burn.

Think I’m In Love Beck
… I think I’m in love but it makes me kind of nervous to say so.
My brother went through a pretty wrenching breakup relatively recently, and it left him a bit skittish where relationships are concerned. Should lightning strike again for my brother (and I’m certain it will), I’m pretty sure he’ll be kind of nervous to say so.

Southern Gul Erykah Badu
… I’m from the South. I’m a Southern Gul.
I am from the South, but I’ve never felt all that Southern. “Southern Gul” makes me wish that wasn’t so. Erykah Badu’s voice is a like a warm hug from an old friend.

We Used to Be Friends The Dandy Warhols
… Come on now, sugar. Bring it on, bring it on, yeah.
I first heard this on “Veronica Mars.” It’s a catchy little ditty. And it always reminds me that I should remember to watch “Veronica Mars” because it’s a great show. Also, there’s a lot of clapping in the song, which makes it the perfect lead-in to …

Clap Your Hands They Might Be Giants
… Clap your hands … stomp your feet … jump in the air!
This is on one of Poppy’s CDs, They Might Be Giants’ “No.” It’s a fun song for dancing.

Sunday Sunny Mill Valley Groove Day Frank Black
… And when it’s over and the clover has left the mountainside, you’ll be king of what you survived.
A nice, laid-back song. It makes me happy and hopeful.

The Pills Stopped Working Hem
… I spent my whole life looking for land but settled on the breakers.
Have I mentioned that I love Hem? Well I do. This song has a decidedly country-and-western sound to it.

Say Yes! to M!ch!gan! Sufjan Stevens
… Rivers run, interstate, Michigan.
I like Sufjan Stevens more each time one of his songs pops up on the iPod.

Porchlight Neko Case and Her Boyfriends
… I’m sorry to tread on your patience, my dear
Rockford fell for Neko Case first. I followed not too long after. Mesmerizing voice. To be honest, I’m not that familiar with this particular song. I chose it randomly. And then I found that it’s pretty and it’s moving.

Ocean Breathes Salty Sun Kil Moon
… And maybe we’ll get lucky and we’ll both grow old.
I loved this song when Modest Mouse did it. I think this stripped down version even more.

The Greatest Cat Power
… Once I wanted to be the greatest. No wind or waterfall could stop me. And then came the rush of the flood.
You know who else I love? Cat Power.

John Saw that Number Neko Case
… So he flew from the pit with the moon round his waist
Rockford and my oldest nephew loves this song. They also love “Star Wars” and Legos. It’s a great song regardless. The imagery is spectacular.

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What with all the Chemical Brothers and Air and My Morning Jacket, the iPod that I got for my birthday several years ago has felt for a very long time like Rockford’s iPod. When he got his own iPod for Christmas this year, I removed the music I didn’t care for from mine. Our tastes do intersect quite a bit, but there’s a lot of stuff he listens to that makes my ears so, so sad.

Anyway, I thought this development was going to make my iPod feel more like my iPod. It seems, though, that it’s slowly turning into Poppy’s iPod. Fortunately, she’s small enough that I can still dictate her music. Small victories, right?

1. Comes a Time Neil Young
2. He Came to Meet Me Hem
3. The Maker Daniel Lanois
4. Born to Run Bruce Springsteen
5. Strawberry Fields Forever Ben Harper
6. 16 Days Whiskeytown
7. Please, Can I Keep It? Laura Linney
8. Motorcade Beck
9. It’s Your Birthday Justin Roberts
10. Theologians Wilco
11. Jack and Diane John Mellancamp
12. Tainted Love Soft Cell
13. So Whatchya Want Beastie Boys

The littlest Beastie.
Originally uploaded by nichole_e.

14. After It All Cat Power
15. Feeling Gravity’s Pull REM
16. I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow The Soggy Bottom Boys
17. Philadelphia Chickens 2 Michael Ford
18. Lotta Love Neil Young
19. Lone Child Frank Black
20. Blue Bayou Linda Rondstadt

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Weekend mornings might be my favorite time of the week. Today being a bonus weekend today makes it that much sweeter. Here’s our routine:

Waking up.
Originally uploaded by nichole_e.

1. Poppy wakes up. Some mornings she gives an all-out cry. Sometimes she just stands up and says “Daddy-Daddy-Daddy” or “Mama-Daddy-Mama-Daddy-Mama-Daddy.”
2. Rockford wakes up to the sound of his little girl calling for him. (Or crying.)
3. Rockford goes to fetch Poppy.
4. Marsha takes advantage of the open bedroom door. She leaps onto the bed. If the ting-a-ling of her bell doesn’t wake me up, her whiskers tickling my face certainly will.
5. Rockford and Poppy come back to the bedroom. Poppy says, “Mama!” and dives for me.
6. Rockford turns on PBS.
7. We cuddle and watch a little “Clifford” or “Bearnstain Bears,” depending on how late we slept.
8. After the show, or whenever Poppy is done with the show, we head downstairs for breakfast.

It’s the perfect way to start the day.

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