First: It is too hot – no, not in the good way, and not with two Ts. Brisbane has apparently decided to do away with the season in between winter and summer entirely this year, and it doesn’t look like it will ever, ever rain again. I am writing up a storm, but in my heart of hearts I am dreaming of large swimming pools filled with freezing sparkling mineral water, and my inner child is whimpering.

Second: Shuffle mode is great for moments of joy and catharsis that hit you over the head while you’re walking around minding your own business. I’ve become quite enamoured with it, particularly as I have several gigs of mistagged or untagged music floating around on my iPod, and tend to hit the same old playlists if left to my own devices. Favourite sonic surprises this week:

1. Bright Eyes – Lover I Don’t Have to Love (which is good for defiantly stomping out the Ks from the bus stop to my office)
2. Leonard Cohen – That Don’t Make it Junk (which prompted a wistfully enigmatic smile – or possibly just a general aura of mental disturbance – on the 372 bus)
3. Brahms 4 (made me say “oh” and sit down quickly)

And third: Welcome home from your World Domination Tour, Mel!