I gave away the gift card from the raffle to one of my colleagues who has a small child. Told her that looking at the web site of the fancy shmancy shop, it looks like $50 will get you PJs and a pair of socks. I was speaking with my colleagues and it turned out quite a few of us gave away or traded away what we got.

I love the fact that I work at a school where parents care enough to come to parent-teacher conferences, so I don’t care that it made for a very long and draining day. Fortunately, I have a day off tomorrow. I just need to be careful not to sleep it away. I’m setting two alarms just in case, and planning on grading, paperwork, laundry, grocery shopping, and maybe, just maybe, a gym visit and a pedicure.

Some time back, my sister gave me an iTunes card. Best present ever. Thus far I’ve bought the following: Most recent purchase first. Links are to Youtube versions of the songs.

Gunpowder & Lead - Miranda Lambert, because I liked the line about “he ain’t seen me crazy yet”. I first heard it via this blog post. And here’s live version with the actual Ms Lambert. (Starts at 2m 11s.)
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Jeff Healey Band, because the news of his death made me cry.
No More Songs - Phil Ochs. I wanted the Holly Near version but couldn’t find it, so I bought the original instead. (That Youtube version is by neither of them, but lovely nonetheles.)
Smalltown Boy - Bronski Beat, because when I was a teenager, the line about “the answers you seek will never be found at home” had a lot of resonance.
La Tortura - Shakira feat. Alejandro Sanz, because it was playing in the gym one day when I had a really good deadlift session.
Let’s Get Loud - Jennifer Lopez.
Que Hiciste - Jennifer Lopez.
Let the River Run - Carly Simon, because it mentions Jerusalem, and I like her voice in this song.
It’s Raining Men - The Weather Girls, because I first heard it at a lovely wedding in the summer of 1993 (?) and thought it was wonderfully optimistic.
He Got Game - Public Enemy, because I was in a basketball mood and I liked the movie.
All Souls Night - Loreena McKennitt, because it’s gorgeous, I’ve always liked it and she’s Canadian.
What’s Up - Four Non Blondes.
None of Us Are Free - Solomon Burke feat. the Blind Boys of Alabama, because it is heart-achingly beautiful. I first heard it via this blog post.

Add some classical and some metal, and the above reflects my music collection pretty well. No pattern that I can see, but maybe I’m missing something.