Today, November 29th, 2005, Ridley Michael Linton-Martin was unquestionably the cleanest baby on Bowmore Road.

I'll give you the backstory. For the past four days, Ridley has been wracked with the pain of teething. As a result, he has been an uncharacteristically poor eater and sleeper. The morning nap essentially disappeared. Baby food went uneaten. The only thing that this baby would accept into his mouth without much hesitation was my nipple. Hence, the majority of his nutrients were coming from breastmilk.

Now, those among you who have breastfed an infant (or are the partners of breastfeeding mothers) will know that an exclusively breastfed baby produces an unique type of bowel movement: mustard yellow, sometimes frothy, often very wet and runny. In a very young infant, these yellow BMs are frequent but generally not too massive in quantity at any given time as the baby is not so large.

Now imagine that this exclusively breastfed infant weighs over 25 lbs. and is nearly one year in age. Ah huh. We're talkin' spillage, folks. Massive amounts of wet yellow poo oozing out of every nook and cranny of the hapless, overloaded diaper. Thus, on November 29th Ridley had three changes of clothes, I had at least two, and yes, Ridley had three baths in one day.

Like I said, the cleanest baby on Bowmore.

Podcasting has saved my sanity.

I begin this post with what may be a shocking revelation to some: that working from home can be lonely. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to pursue my passion, namely my art. However, as with many other creative vocations, it's one that you perform in solitude. Well, okay, periodically I rent the facilities at a printmakers' studio in downtown Toronto and actually hold conversations with other artists. Most of the time, though, I'm puttering about in my home studio.

The one thing, and indeed the only thing, that I miss about my last place of employment is the camaraderie I enjoyed with my co-workers. The radio helps ease some of the silence of solitude because, though it is not a two-way conversation, at least it's another voice in the room. For years I've been a devotee of CBC Radio One. However, lately I find that the ol' CBC is just plain boring -- at least during the daytime. I mean, how many gardening tips does one really need to listen to? I abandoned commerical radio many years ago, as it's simply a morass of mediocrity. (Can someone please explain to me why Madonna is a big celebrity when she can bearly carry a note?).

And so enters podcasting. Ah, salvation! Finally, something with a little content. Here's some really, really great podcasts that I recently discovered:

The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd http://www.doctorfloyd.com/blog/rss.xml
Cush - Things I Say http://feeds.feedburner.com/CushthingsISay
Reel Reviews http://reelreviewsradio.com/podcast.xml

Enjoy!

CBC Radio has become obsessed with the making of lists; specifically, the cobbling-together of lists of the "Top Canadian Songs" or the "Top 50 Songs of All Time", and the like. Judging by the popularity of these programs, it's not just the old hippies at our national public radio who are list-obsessed. Everyone's jumping on this bandwagon.

I blame Nick Hornby. He penned the now classic "High Fidelity" and created the immature yet lovable list-making rogue Rob Fleming. After the traumatic break-up from his girlfriend, Rob takes comfort in the company of the clerks at his vintage vinyl store, whose bantering compilations of top-five lists (e.g., top five Elvis Costello songs; top-five films) typify the novel's ingratiating saturation in pop culture.

Ah, but I digress. Somewhat. Lists and pop culture, they go hand-in-hand. It all smacks of the broody seriousness of adolescence, this compiling of lists such as "Top-Ten Favourite Pop Albums of All Time". I'm well into adulthood now, with the big 40 looming on the not-too-distant horizon. I have no excuse. And I offer none. Here's my list, in no particular order:

1. Radiohead. OK Computer. Tough call. Doubtless, it's a brilliant, flawless album. It's just difficult for me to pick just one Radiohead album. Honourable Mention to both Kid A and Amnesiac.

2. The Smiths. Louder Than Bombs. Is this one actually an album, or another Smiths compilation? I can never tell, there are so many compilations out there. This one still lives in my 5-CD platter.

3. Ani Difranco. Dilate. Accept no substitutes, this woman's the real deal. The double-CD live album Living in Clip receives Honourable Mention. Ani is amazing in concert.

4. Underworld. Second Toughest in the Infants. I recently "acquired" this album again, after having lost the CD on a flight back from Amsterdam. Solid.

5. Led Zeppelin. Fourth Album. Ya know, the one without a title, just those four symbols. Yeah, that one. Again, tough to choose just one Zep album. Classic. I pick this album not so much for Stairway to Heaven (good song that became waaaaaay overplayed), but for the ultra sexy cover of the Memphis Minnie song When the Levee Breaks. Still gives me shivers.

6. Pink Floyd. Dark Side of the Moon. Yeah, first Zeppelin and now Floyd. Gettin' way old skool. Dark Side still remains a perfect gem of an album, though. Honourable Mention to Wish You Were Here and Meddle, which contains the gorgeous, scintillating, 26-minute-long Echoes. Ah, many an acid trip was embarked upon whilst listening to this song. (Don't try this at home, kids).

7. AC/DC. Back in Black. Kicks Ass. 'Nuff said.

8. Tom Waits. Nighthawks at the Diner. Tom Waits live and in top storytelling form.

9. Nick Drake. Time of No Reply. This one is a posthumous compilation, with unreleased material. Drake's voice is so soft and vulnerable that you'll be close to tears. Hauntingly beautiful.

10. Depeche Mode. Violator. What?! Hey, it can't all be moody doom-and-gloom. Mmm...yeah, actually it can, 'cause this DM album is moody and gloomy. But David Gahan's voice is sooooo sexy. And it's all very danceable.

There. Now you've learned so much about me. Glad we could share this moment ;-)