pseudodementia in absentia

I found a regular trove of old CD's today. Many purchased or gifted, but most I burned in my wee youth of 4-5 years ago. Back when Napster was cool and I a freshman. When I'd spend the hours from midnight to six every night chatting away my life on AIM, downloading every seemingly fun song, audio clip, and stand-up routine, and drinking Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper, and rot-gut tequila. Mind you, this all occurred just before/as Red Bull imprinted itself upon my consumer conciousness. I have no real concept of how long it's been out there, but I never bought it before college.

Anyway, one of these discs I found has a rather embarrassing-to-admit, yet fun list of tracks that I just felt I had to share. I can't believe--well, I can believe I made it--I just can't believe I made it. So, as a testament to my past self, here's the lineup:

1. Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Judy Garland
2. What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
3. Tossed Salad and Scrambled Eggs
4. Minnie the Moocher - Cab Calloway
5. It Don't Mean a Thing - Louis
6. Mack the Knife - Bobby Darin
7. Jump in the Line
8. Dream - Cranberries (it gets worse)
9. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John
10. If I Only Had a Brain
11. Que Sera Sera - Doris Day
12. Caribbean Amphibian - Jimmy Buffet and Kermit
13. Twisting the Night Away - Rod Stewart
14. Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits
15. Mandolin Wind - Rod Stewart
16. Ghost Riders in the Sky - Johnny Cash
17. Fire and Rain - James Taylor
18. Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash
19. The Rainbow Connection - Kermit
20. Over the Rainbow/Wonderful World Medley - Isreali something

So as scary as this list may appear taken altogether, I really like each and every song on it. I mean most are no big deal. But I don't think I'd ever have called myself a big Rod Stewart fan. My mom's a Rod Stewart fan. Not me. Not me? Regardless of how it strikes me as not-so-much-what-I-often-listen-to, it's all great stuff that makes me feel happy and appear very gay. I mean, the Cranberries? But sure, everybody secretly loves the Cranberries so that's not even far beyond the left field line. And I totally make up for Judy Garland with Louis Armstrong or Dire Straits. Johnny Cash is always great. I'm fairly certain it's anathema for an American to not like him these days. But besides all that, he was pretty awesome.

First there were Elvis impersonators. Now we have Joaquin Phoenix.