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Thursday, June 15, 2006

SHUFFLE BUTTON

The project I've been working on since coming back to my old job requires me to leave my house at no latter than 4:45 so that I can be at my desk a little before 6 am... While I do despise waking up so early, I don't mind missing the traffic.

I cruise down an empty George Washington Parkway and get a beautiful view of the Potomac River, Georgetown, and the Washington monument.

I also love Capitol Hill at sunrise... There is something amazing about being in the Heart of our Nation's Capitol as it wakes up. The sidewalks are empty. There is no commotion. No tourists. No power brokers swinging deals on their cell phones... Just a few stray workers doing the same thing I'm doing; getting an early start on the day... They shoot a nod or wave of the hand in my direction- just a quick acknowledgment. Amazingly, right there in the shadows of the Capitol Building it feels like this metropolis is still a small town.

I don't notice all these things everyday, I've lived here all my life... but every now and then I catch myself admiring the City like any other tourist.

That happened this morning... I got to work early and decided to sit in my car and listen to my Mp3 player. I put my headphones on and hit the shuffle button... I have about 1300 songs on my player right now- I have everything from the Raggaeton of Don Omar to the Classic Rock of The Doors... It's always an adventure when I hit the shuffle button.

When I hit this morning I got "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" sung by Judy Garland (everyone has their guilty pleasures, what can I say?)... I leaned my seat back and relaxed as I let the music take me away... I thought about how much I loved DC at this hour... My sister's graduation... My god, she's all grown up... And so am I... It's seems like only a couple of years ago that we were little kids hidden under a blanket and eating popcorn as we watched Judy Garland sing this very song in "The Wizard of OZ"... It was a very touching moment... Just me, in my car, staring at the Capitol Building, listening to the music... and then the song ended...

a pause as the next song began... I wonder what it will be??

My ear drums were immediately hit with the bass of Pitbull and Lil' John's song "Toma"... in case you've never heard it- here are the opening lyrics written by that world renowned bilingual poet, Pitbull:

OYE LOCA VEN PA'CA, OYE LOCA VEN PA'CA
MUEVELO MUEVELO SIN PARAR
SI TU QUIERES QUE TE COMA TODA, SI TU QUIERES QUE TE COMA TODA
ABRE LA PIERNAS DA LE TOMA!
EVERY OTHER CITY WE GO- WE ALWAYS PULL A COUPLE OF PRETTY HOES
TAKE'EM BACK TO THE ROOM AND GET IT ON
ONCE WE DONE GET YOUR CLOTHES AND GET GONE...


Needless to say, my special moment was over... I listened for a minute, laughed at the amazing contrast of the songs, and then decided to get to work.

As I made the long walk to my office all I could think was: NOTHING BEATS THE SHUFFLE BUTTON!

8 comments:

jennifer said...

this is a great post. your writing achieved the same thing as your shuffle button.

you start out almost in a reverie, admiring the city, reminiscing about your childhood. the descriptions lull like the song, "somewhere over the rainbow."

then the transcription of the--um, more then slightly misogynistic--reggaeton lyrics (in CAPS) breaks the mood and the reverie.

i feel like i experienced exactly what you did this morning.

great writing.
@>-->>---

Anonymous said...

sorry joel, i'm pretty open minded but i don't think i would like this pit bull character.

Anonymous said...

but the city--the way you described it--sounds amazing.

sonrisa morena said...

this was such a relaxing post...until you changed the song :-( ...maybe i'll go visit your city since it's taking you so long to get over here!!...your description made it look so nice

Mick & Cathy said...

Like you I have liked a wide range of music over the years so the shuffle button is always fun.

As for your city I can't wait to visit one day I'm sure it will be fun (I've had some good reports).

under the red sky said...

Somewhere Over the Rainbow? Have the Nats depressed you this much? I'm sorry bro!

Santiago said...

It is good to be back and reading your blog. Thanks for the contrast and great description about the city.

Oh yeah sorry for stiffing you with the bill. You know I would have put some on it.

Regina Rodriguez-Martin said...

What is the big deal with the shuffle button?? I've heard people talk about them like they're prescient or sapien (although you don't in this post and I appreciate that). What the hell...