First off, happy day-late birthday to my little brother, Patrick, (who, unlike my other two siblings, does not have an LJ.)

Some people noticed that yesterday was 7-7-07. I didn't even notice until late in the day, because my brain was all clogged up with the Patrick's Birthdayness of it.

Speaking of birthdays, I got a late but awesometastic birthday present from my older brother docwhoopee and his wife--Basie's Beatle Bag. It's an album of Beatles songs as done by Count Basie and his Orchestra. Rozana, my sister-in-law, is doing time at The Book Nook again, so when somebody brought in a copy for sale, she snatched it up the moment the deal was sealed. I have wanted this thing ever since I found it existed. I figured it had to be either brilliant or bizarre; either way, I had to have it.

It's on the brilliant end of the scale, in case you wondered. They don't even try to make them sound like rock and roll, they take the tunes and make them swing. Some of these you could probably play for people and have them not even realize these are Beatles songs until they cock their head and go "Wait . . . that tune sounds kinda familiar . . . " And, dude, it's Count Basie, who has yet to disappoint me with any recording I've obtained.

I've been listening to it over again over again all day. I am a happy Fishy.

Today I took pleasure in listening to this album.

Today I learned Neil Gaiman was amused by Evan Dorkin's rant about the BPAL fragrances based on Neil's work showing up in the Diamond Previews catalog.