QUICK! Pick five songs out of your current playlist and listen to each one. Write down where each takes you.

1." Suddenly I See," KT Tunstall
    Driving to my interview for *new job* and realizing they were playing this song I love on the radio, and feeling great about my prospects and my makeover

2. "Istanbul (Not Constantinople), " They Might Be Giants
    The "doo doo doo" part always reminds me of my brother. I picture him singing it and cracking up, and it makes me laugh.

3. "Birdhouse In Your Soul," TMBG
    Working at the Daily Illini in college, goofing around with Chris Heidenrich while she sings it in a really funny voice.

4. "Mr. Jones," Talking Heads
    Driving around after getting my license at 16, and having the freedom to go wherever I wanted in my '76 Chevy Nova.

5. "Get Up (I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine),"  James Brown
    The first wedding I coordinated -- my friend Pat got married to her longtime boyfriend. We did it on a two-story boat on Lake Michigan. When I got to the bakery two hours before launch to pick up the wedding cake, I found they'd screwed up and never made it. We pulled it off with cakes they'd made for regular customers, and they refunded every penny of the cost, so the bride was thrilled. She and her new husband danced down the middle of the crowd of guests to this song -- the 50-year-old white economist, and the beautiful, 6-foot-tall African-American artist. The guests ranged from a soutside preacher to bankers to writers and artists, and everyone was so happy for Pat and Mike (yes, their real names). It was an amazing day.