Do you have any idea how difficult it is to type up an entry with Ella Fitzgerald purring Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered in your ear? Trust me, it's difficult, especially if all you you want to do is concentrate on the lyrics and sing along. And because we share a birthday and the same vocal key, I think I can actually sound good.

(Yes, Ella sang in the same key that that I can carry, though my limited vocal range doesn't even come close to her heavenly tones.)

Ya gotta love a song that not only uses the word "vexed", but rhymes it with "perplexed" and goes onto say, "Thank G-d I can be over-sexed again," espcially considering the era during which Rodgers and Hart wrote it. (PAL JOEY premiered on Broadway in 1940.)

What amazes me is how much I like this song, considering that the music was composed by Richard Rodgers. I've strongly disliked (ok, hated) most of the Rodgers and Hammerstein ouevre for many years (amazing since my mom adores all of their work, which means I grew up listening to OKLAHOMA, THE KING AND I and THE SOUND OF MUSIC, among others) . I've found the bulk of it sappy and annoying beyond belief. Now I realize that's only due to Hammerstein's lyrics. Or maybe Hammerstein brought out Rodgers deeply buried saccharinity. I don't know.

Also listening to Ella's rendition of Love for Sale by Cole Porter. Truly haunting. Chills run up and down my entire body when I listen to it. Between Ella's smooth, soulful vocals, the muted, dark orchestration and heart-wrenching lyrics such as:

...it's enough to make an incurable romantic like myself to weep.

Apropos of nothing, should a woman who has a forehead big enough to rent out as a billboard stop wearing bangs? Not only that, but should she wear her hair slicked away from her face, which would in turn prominently display her male pattern bald-like hair line (which she's had all her life)? Just wondering.

BTW, I didn't go and have a kid without telling anyone. That's Nephew Ryan I'm holding there. This was on Labor Day and Ryan was about two weeks old.

I swear, I must have the tiniest ear canals. Since the day I adopted the kittens I've had to wear ear plugs so I could get some sleep. So I bought those nice foam ear plugs, the kind that are supposed to expand to fit the shape of your ear canal. Well, they never fit right, mainly because they stick out too far. Inevitably I wake up too early because one of them pop out of my ear after getting snagged on my pillow. Even trimming them down doesn't help (the plugs, not the ears).

So I tried the wax/cotton type, which fit over the opening of the canal. No good. Not only did they fall off, but when they did stay on they didn't keep out enough noise.

I'll have to see if I can find childrens' ear plugs. Why do I have little ears?

I think I need to work on my stalking skills. Rob pointed out to me that a stalker isn't supposed to ask permission to stalk or steal photos and post them. She just goes ahead and does it. I kind of forgot about that. I guess I'm just too polite to stalk properly. It's all my parents' fault for teaching me good manners.

It's time to let the stalking begin!

Oh, isn't that just the cutest picture of Rob? I sure think it is. Here's another really cute one:

What can I say? He's adorable when he's happy. See?