First it was the iTunes party shuffle. And now it's the iPod I bought B (read: B AND me) for Christmas. All of this music that had been turning into coasters is back in my life. I've been chatting with the MediTodds (S/H) about it this week and the bottom line is that those 700+ CDs I bought over the past 10 years are finally getting some renewed play.

My newest obsession is creating the perfect playlist to accompany my cardio at the gym. Here is a pretty kick-ass one that I've been tinkering with over my last few workouts-- I think I've perfected it:

1. "Sexy", Black Eyed Peas, Elephunk
2. "Before Today", Everything But the Girl, Walking Wounded
3. "Sports & Wine", Ben Folds Five, Ben Folds Five
4. "Someday I Suppose", The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Don't Know How to Party
5. "Monkey Wrench", Foo Fighters, Colour & the Shape
6. "Spice Up Your Life", Spice Girls, Spiceworld
7. "Let's Get Retarded", Black Eyed Peas, Elephunk
8. "Violet", Hole, Live Through This
9. "The Best Thing", Ivy, ApartmentLife
10. "Breathe In", Frou Frou, Details

All of this grooves so well with my 30 minute cardio workout, but in particular, I love the little buzz I get from beginning my interval runs during the Dave Grohl screaming part of "Monkey Wrench" and the increasingly driving beginning bars of "Let's Get Retarded". And then on my non-strength training days when I up my cardio to 45 minutes, I created an another playlist mixing in the following additional songs:

• "Got to Be Real", Cheryl Lynn, The Last Days of Disco
• "Wow", Cinerama, Disco Volante
• "Without Me", Eminem, The Eminem Show

I know, I know: Spice Girls. Dude, I will so never live THAT one down-- so I'm not even going to try.

So over the past month I've been joining the Federal "workforce" on Tuesdays when I commute to the Federal Triangle-- downtown for those of you outside DC, but be warned that it is really nothing like a downtown, except that it's where everyone in this city works-- to work onsite with one of my clients. To them it means "avoiding disconnects", but to me it more literally means pitch-black morning wake-up calls, crisply pressed blouses, B kissing me goodbye at the door instead of the other way around, the trusty Pennsylvania Avenue Metro bus line, carpal tunnel syndrome, general dehydration, oodles of productivity, and leftovers for dinner.

I think I'll play Elvis Costello's "Welcome to the Working Week" when I get home.

B's on a brochure publishing deadline, which typically makes him fussy and irritable and someone who absolutely under no circumstances has "time for this shit!"

So when the iTunes application on his PowerBook starts popping up every 10 minutes or so-- a bored child tugging on a father's sleeve-- he gets very irritated and begins anthropomorphizing his iTunes through vocal imitation. But to the horror of apple marketers everywhere-- who are obviously very into their übersleek apple/iPod/iTunes image-- he does not use an equally übersleek voice, but instead the lethargic, dopey voice of Hugo the Abominable Snowman from Looney Tunes. You know the one: "I will name him George and I will hug him and pet him and squeeze him and pat him and pet him and love him and caress him."

I suspect that certain apple executives might lose a little sleep over this small truth.

While B and I were out of town for 2.5 days, TiVo recorded the following "suggested" programs in our absence:

• Thunderbirds
• Touched by an Angel
• Batman: El Regreso del Grasón
• Special Operations Force: America's Secret Soldiers
• Guts and Glory: The Rise and Fall of Oliver North

No joke-- we walked in, dropped our bags in the living room, booted up computers, and then began sifting through TiVo as if it were a neglected pet that needed our immediate attention.
B is still in there "whoop-whooping" all over the place. I'm guessing that until the novelty of TiVo wears off, this is sure to become a regular feature.