Random Thoughts on Labor Day

We went out to breakfast down the street at Uncle Bill's Diner. We usually do that on Monday holidays. We went to my mother's old apartment in Forest Hills to clean out some stuff. We have until the end of September to get everything out. All of the small stuff is gone, but we will try to donate the furniture she doesn't need to a charitable organization. On the way we were listening to WFUV as they played Dylan's Labor Day song Maggies Farm.

After we finished in her apartment we drove to Westbury to see Mom in her new digs at The Bristal. She certainly appreciated our coming over. Joyce and Keith came by a little later and brought her some stuff she needed from the old apartment. The new place is certainly shaping up. It will still some time for her to adjust to the new living environment. I am sure that it is for the best.

On the way home I tuned in WCBS-FM to hear their Top 1001 listener countdown. As I turned on to the Northern State Parkway Dave Packer announced Like a Rolling Stone as the #21 song. It is still good to hear the Bob Dylan National Anthem on the radio after all these years. Knockin' on Heavens Door was the only other Dylan hit that charted with WCBS-FM's listeners at #370. Some what later, the countdown was posted on the station's web site. Rag Doll by the 4 Seasons was voted #1. I don't hate the song, but there were so many better 4 Seasons hits over the years. I have a feeling that someone may have stuffed the ballot box. In any event I have not been a big fan of countdowns in recent years.

When I got home I turned on the Met game. They lost to the lowly Washington Nationals 13-3. They even brought in Oliver Perez to mop up.

I went downstairs to read the Sunday New York Times. It was pretty boring since holiday weekends are usually slow news days. I opened up the book review section and saw an advertisement for:

Wilentz, Sean. Bob Dylan in America. New York: Doubleday, 2010. Print.

It is coming out on Tuesday. When I finish writing this entry, I will go to Amazon.com to order it. No need to run to the few bookstores which still exist. Maybe I'll buy a Kindle soon and just download it. Here are some comments from the advertisement:

"If you thought there was nothing new to say about Bob Dylan's impact on America, this book will make you think twice." --- Bill Flanagan

"Reading Sean Wilentz's Bob Dylan in America is as thrilling thrilling and suprising as listening to a great Dylan son" ----Martin Scorsese

Finally, readers of this journal know that I regular listen to Dennis Mitchell's Breakfast with the Beatles in the evening. This week the 1000th edition of the show was released. Congratulations to Dennis and his staff for producing such a fine radio program. I hope the show will be around for many years. to come.