I want a dog.

Or maybe a cat. No, a dog. My place is too small, I'm not home enough, I don't have a dog-friendly back yard, I'm not fond of keeping up with dog maintenance, but I still want one. My sister and her family got a white labrador retriever puppy last weekend, only seven weeks old, and the little baby is so hard to resist. Whether he's misbehaving, snoozing or being playful, he's too much fun. And that's about as parental as I get!

By the way, my musing yesterday about Ron Miles? This is why I'm so hard to buy gifts for. I bought a disk of his on Amazon.com today (OK, not actually a Ron Miles disk since the one I really wanted is out of print, but a Bill Frisell title featuring Mr. Miles). When it comes to gifts? Take me out for dinner or a strip club or laser tag or a ski day or something. I'd rather have the company than things I can buy myself…

CDs listened to today:

• Olivier Messiaen: Concert à Quatre
• Liz Phair: Exile In Guyville
• Samba Mapalanga: Ujumbe
• Shulamit Ran: Apprehensions
• Tom Scott & The LA Express: Tom Cat
• Alban Berg: Lulu Suite
• William Schuman: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra
• Talking Heads: Naked
• My Morning Jacket: Z