upload all my music to my iPod

Since I’m spending so much of my time doing optical design lately, which involves waiting for the computer to recalculate the merit function, calculate tolerances, etc., I’ve been able to add to my task list “upload 2 CD’s” every day lately. Slow but sure, I’ve been building up my iTunes library. I now have just over 1,000 songs. At 15 songs per CD on average, That’s 67 CD’s, or about 1/4 of my collection.

It’s nice to be able to reach back into that memory sphere while I’m writing, and play, for example, “Listening Wind” by David Byrne from 1980 when the mood calls for it…

My wife just told me today that research has shown (according to NPR, I believe) that listening to music that you associate with better times in your life (e.g. College) reduces stress.

I remember being really into music until I got out of college. Then I discovered NPR radio, and fell in love with being informed. Then came books on tape. Now, though, I’ve plugged the iPod into the car stereo, and I’m redescovering the benefits of listening to the stuff in the “Dave’s faves” playlist.

It makes sense, I suppose.

It’s just strange to me that I’ve suddenly become very interested in music.

I usually enjoy my drive to and from work through the bucholic Connecticut river valley while listening to NPR or books on tape. But since I started writing again, I’ve been listening to…music.

Why not more books on tape? That’s the strange thing. I guess the point is not the medium, but the side of my brain that is active. Books on tape is very cerebral. But writing, and enjoying music/poetry, is very creative. AS my creative self re-awakens, I am drawn to music again. Sure enough, all my old journals (back when I wrote more frequently than my recent once a month level) are also filled with musical refrences! I have a closet full of old CD’s from that period of my life.

So now I’m more interested than ever in getting it all onto my iPod, so I can return to the emotional embrace of Bruce Cockburn, Kate Bush, Suzanne Vega, Lenny Cohen, Peter Gabriel, and all the other great poet/singers of my generation.

I will work on this task more this weekend.

A couple of weeks ago I bought myself a new 30g video iPod to replace my ‘retro’ 2nd gen 15g iPod which just stopped functioning properly. I’ve put a couple of albums on there, but it’s nothing compared to how Sylvia (old ipod!) used to be. I just haven’t had enough time or motivation to get around to doing it properly. I haven’t even given the new iPod a proper name yet!

So yes, definitely need to dedicate a few days to this goal, to make sure that my days are always full of lovely tunes!