Wednesday Dottles

1. I blog today from Tucson. It's just hotter than hell here. It was 102F when I got off the plane at 7PM local time last night. And don't give me that "dry heat" crap. It's too damn hot.

2. Actually I'd put up Baltimore heat against Tucson heat anytime. Though not everyday during the summer, we get 92F with 72F dewpoints a few times each year. That brings you to your knees.

3. I flew through Denver to get here. The turbulence was as bad as any I've experienced. The older I get, the more a white-knuckle flier I become. When I stood up to get off the plane, there in the seat in front of me sat someone I work with. Captain Oblivious didn't even notice him when he got on the plane.

4. What I listened to on the planes to Tucson: Abbey Road, Elgar's Violin Concerto in B minor, Dvorak's Piano Quartet in E-flat minor, Tchaikovsky's Concerto for Violin, Rossini overtures (go William Tell!), Taking the Long Way by The Dixie Chicks, some of a Van Halen, Aerosmith, and AC/DC playlist. Aren't Ipods wonderful?

5. How about those wacky Episcopalians electing a woman as Presiding Bishop? We have what's called a General Convention every three years where we conduct all sorts of business. Last time the Convention elected an openly gay bishop to the Diocese of New Hampshire. Now this. The Episcopal Church is already on thin ice with the rest of the Anglican Communion because of the gay thing. We'll see what happens. I don't think it'll be as dire as the press will make it sound.

6. I just saw Glory Road. Meh. Before that I saw a couple of classics: Breaking Away (recommended by my son) and The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. I liked both of them much more.

7. Fred and Ethel are now on their second brood. Eth is sitting on four eggs. My bluebirds are having a banner year. They already fledged four birds.

8. The local cable access channels in Tucson have all these Baptist preachers who get on TV and say some really outlandish things. I listened to one last night who told me I'm going to Hell. He also told me Tom Cruise, Bill Gates, and Tiger Woods are going to Hell with me. Really. The preacher said there's no chance any of us can get into heaven. He said anyone who's at all happy or successful or good-looking or rich or has had any kind of positve outcome in their lives (even if it's the result of hard work and determination) are all going to Hell because those people haven't suffered. Really. I swear. The preacher told me this. Only downtrodden sufferers are God's elect and will make it to heaven. The souls of successful people are doomed to eternal suffering. To find out more, go here.

9. Some of my favorite singers (Thanks, Cassie-B): Mary Chapin Carpenter, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Nanci Griffith, Eastern Bluebird, and Wood Thrush. I suppose I have to include Brian Johnson on this list, but with him, it's more awe and amazement than anything else. How can someone sing like that every day? I like him a lot more than Bon Scott. What a second-Darren Brian Johnson is.

10. I'd like to hear The Hallelujah Chorus sung by a church choir where all the members had voices like Brian Johnson's. Same timbre and overall quality. That would sound incredible. Could it even be done? What would a female Brian Johnson even sound like? I'm laughing just thinking about it. We need to hear this.
K-