I returned to work today and The Boss was very solicitous with regard to my health. I reported that I'd seen a psychiatrist yesterday, who had finally been able to diagnose my problem. I have CDO. That's like OCD, but in alphabetical order, as it should be.

The Boss's response? "I love you." Heh heh.

I want to pass on a couple of recommendations from friends. Flippy had written several weeks ago that I should read Last Days of Summer, by Steve Kluger. It took a while for me to put together the complex process of writing the title and author onto a note, remembering to take the note with me to the bookstore, and most importantly, remembering while at the bookstore to take the note out of my purse, find the book and buy it. Eventually I managed to put this intricate task together and I finished the book over the weekend. What a wonderful story! It's sweet and funny and moving - a little more sentimental than my usual fare, but admirably so. I loved the characters, the epistolary style of the novel, the baseball - but if you're not a sports fan, it won't matter in the slightest. It's still a moving, entertaining, delightful novel. I read one review that calls it a "coming of age" novel, but I found it so much more than that - dry, sarcastic humour, phenomenally well-drawn characters (I loved Aunt Carrie!), captivating story. I don't want to give anything away, but I saw the Something Bad coming from about page 2 - and you probably will too - but don't let it dissuade you from the pleasure of this engrossing novel. Mom, you're going to love this book but I know you: you will cry so much the book will get waterlogged, so no, you can't borrow mine, you'll have to buy your own.

Next, Brodie's mom told me to check out the CD "Absolution" from a band called Muse. I'd never heard of them, but I figured I'd pick it up. Oh. My. Gods. I can't remember the last time I've been this blown away by a band (maybe not since Dream Theater's A Change Of Seasons [I refer to the song, not the CD], maybe longer). I'm on my 5th play through the CD since leaving Best Buy. Produced by Rich Costey (who worked with Rage Against The Machine), evocative of early Radiohead, especially the vocals, but that's an unfair comparison. There is a lot more going on here, such as some hauntingly lovely piano, some rock opera and most of all a heaping helping of good, straightforward RAWK (and plenty of it). I also hear elements of some classical influence - I'm not sure I agree with the Wikipedia entry that the classical is Wagnerian - it sounds more Romantic to me, but I'm no expert. I shall have to consult my PhD-in-musical-performance-and-composition-ownin' brother. I'll let you know what he says. Semi-objective review aside, I totally freaking love this CD. Buy it now. If the stores are closed, buy it from iTunes. You won't be sorry.

Thanks to both my pals for some stellar recommendations! Great book, great music! You girls rock! As hard as my new Muse CD!