Who else was driving back from IKEA or California Closets on Saturday and stuck in a miles long detour because the freeway happened to be closed? And who else didn't mind because they got to hear the great This American Life episode on break-ups?

I especially loved the Starlee Kine portion where she talks to Phil Collins. Go listen, you must. Song writing, not just for break-up songs, sounds a lot like picture book writing and Phil Collins sounds like a very nice man you'd all want to have over for dinner.

Phil (is he a Sir? He should be) was asked how to make a really powerful love song that would have universal appeal in simple sentences instead of the complicated wordy things Starlee was writing and Phil said, "So many people try to fluff things up or disguise them. Or make them a little too clever, but sometimes it's the simplest thing that reaches people... [And] it matters how you sing it... it shouldn't be overblown and polished as opposed to a simple idea, simply sung... that is sung with conviction."

Isn't that great? And maybe, to relate to the picture book world, we have the words and pictures instead of words and music. I am going to work on sending Phil and Starlee some cupcakes and not making fussy picture book art. .

Nick Cave* has a lecture on the love song which I have yet to listen to. That might be helpful, too.

How would a mouse break-up song go?