Oh-six favorites
I feel like oh-six has been a good year for me and culture. We're buddies again. Though I haven't necessarily contributed anything of my own, I did reach my hands deep within to pull out some classics, as well as some really good new stuff. I don't think that I'll look back in three or four years and say, "Ah geez, what the crap was I listening to/reading/watching back then?" But you never know; I thought Creed would totally reestablish the credibility of rock 'n roll [that was for Brad]. So, here are some of my favorites of the past year [in chronological order], and I shouldn't have to mention my thoughts on "best of" versus "favorites" again, right? Good.
Films*
one. Little Miss Sunshine. I just read the Onion's year end AV section and they said that this movie was overrated. Perhaps, but I liked it. Who doesn't like a heroin snorting grandpa?
two. Science of Sleep. I loved the visuals in this film. And though the plot seemed weak, I found it more intriguing the way it was presented.
three. Stranger than Fiction. I didn't mention seeing this on my blog, but I found the idea behind this film to be incredibly thought provoking. It stirred a lot of thoughts up about narrative, and the freewill versus determinism debate.
Literature**
one. Count of Monte Cristo, Dumas. I skipped a class to read the end of this book. It was worth it.
two. On the Road, Kerouac. This book inspired the ill-fated trip to Seattle. Just because you want to go travel a bit, doesn't always mean you should.
three. Catch-22, Heller. I read these three books back to back to back. It was an amazing month or so of reading. Catch-22 may be my favorite book of all oh-six. It's to close to say definitively though.
four. The Brothers Karamazov, Dostoevsky. This gets on the list for just being so damn long. That, and I love Aloysha.
Shows
one. Jeff Tweedy with Glenn Kotche, Portland, Crystal Ballroom. Yeah, if you've seen this show on the dvd you know how crazy it was. The man sat down his guitar and made us sit in silence! It was nuts. But absolutely incredible. Jeff gives me hope for the future of music.
two. Anathallo and Page France, Ames, M-Shop. Not only was this a great Halloween show, but the bands were fabulous. Page France's album, "Hello, Dear Wind", is probably my favorite cd that I've picked up this year. That's saying a lot.
three. Point Juncture, WA and Velella Velella, Des Moines, Vaudeville Mews. If you recall, Katie and I were the only two there and got to see two great bands, and got to hang out with them.
Experiences [I realize that this doesn't necessarily fit in]
one. Tonelli's Donuts. I'd like to say that this is about the fifty cent hot dogs or the great donuts. But I never got a hot dog and Annie's has better donuts. It was about hanging out with the Sanchezes late on a school night.
two. Camp Grabher. What a great time. Golf, booze, friends, hot tubs, cigars, cuddling, Ush's premiere, and on and on. Aces.
three. I'm just going to go ahead and assume that this weekend's festivities will make it's way onto this list.
I realize that I didn't put a list of favorite albums on here. As I was looking at the Onion's top music of oh-six lists, I realized that I rarely listen to new music. And I'm okay with that. I let the good stuff filter down through the years and then I enjoy it. Although I'll have to get a listen in on the new Decemberists album. Well, brace yourselves for a year-in-review. It's obligatory! you have my love.
* I have yet to see Pan's Labyrinth or Children of Men yet.
** I haven't finished Les Miserables yet, but it would probably be on the list as well [only books that I've completed get on the list].
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Something about Garmisch
One of the most profound times in my life was my month in Europe [oh-two]. I think about it often. What made it so profound? I'm not sure. Perhaps it was merely its placement between the two years of 104, or that at the time my faith was at a breaking point. Try harder or give up, that sort of thing. I was captured by many things in Europe; the art, the Alps, the architecture, the silence, the bread, the cobble streets. Something always draws my mind back to those twenty-some days.
It could be that I was immersed, or better yet, stuck, in community. I couldn't get out of being with those four other people. The only time I can recall that we were apart was that day in Paris when we all wanted to kill each other. That was a good day to be apart. That was the day that I got to go to the Monet museum in the artist quarter, how fun. I digress. That was the beginning of learning how to live in love amongst a group of people, especially when it is difficult. If that second year of 104 was a master's seminar in learning how to live in grace, than our trip to Europe the perfect preface.
Today I found myself looking at tickets to Munich for the first time in a long while. It would be a shame if I never got to go again, but that might be the case. Being twenty-five, owing thousands of dollars towards an education, owning a car, keeping a steady job; these are the responsibilities that keep me from returning. But this is a dream that dies hard, and hopefully it is fulfilled someday. But if you want to join me, I'm clearing September of oh-seven on my calender, just in case. you have my love.
One of the most profound times in my life was my month in Europe [oh-two]. I think about it often. What made it so profound? I'm not sure. Perhaps it was merely its placement between the two years of 104, or that at the time my faith was at a breaking point. Try harder or give up, that sort of thing. I was captured by many things in Europe; the art, the Alps, the architecture, the silence, the bread, the cobble streets. Something always draws my mind back to those twenty-some days.
It could be that I was immersed, or better yet, stuck, in community. I couldn't get out of being with those four other people. The only time I can recall that we were apart was that day in Paris when we all wanted to kill each other. That was a good day to be apart. That was the day that I got to go to the Monet museum in the artist quarter, how fun. I digress. That was the beginning of learning how to live in love amongst a group of people, especially when it is difficult. If that second year of 104 was a master's seminar in learning how to live in grace, than our trip to Europe the perfect preface.
Today I found myself looking at tickets to Munich for the first time in a long while. It would be a shame if I never got to go again, but that might be the case. Being twenty-five, owing thousands of dollars towards an education, owning a car, keeping a steady job; these are the responsibilities that keep me from returning. But this is a dream that dies hard, and hopefully it is fulfilled someday. But if you want to join me, I'm clearing September of oh-seven on my calender, just in case. you have my love.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Not for the season [laminated cat]
Winter comes and the days all start late
There's motion on the boughs where the dark shapes prowl
Feeling out the feelings
Feeling out the feeling
You know that my life is dull when I have to begin a post with another man's words [though he is quite the man]. But I felt it was appropriate as the actual beginning of winter is almost upon us. Though today was an odd precursor to winter. It rained all morning, and then this afternoon the sun shone and it felt like April all of a sudden, quite strange for a mid-December afternoon. I'm not usually one for wishing for sunshine, flowers and puppies, but I could really use this winter to be short and mostly sunny. I need some bright spots here and there.
Because a) it seems to be a trend, and b) several years of demands, I have resurrected and revamped my original blog. I would like to note that I changed quite a few things on my own. I may be an amateur at HTML, but I can still make things look nice. Anyway, for me this means another place to go and check whether you left comments or not. Please make my time worthwhile.
Bonus. However, you're already here. Thanks for visiting this blog. As you're reading along, feel free to take a gander at some of my original bloggings, and please excuse my sophomoric ramblings. I wasn't as acquainted with the etiquette of the blogging world yet. Anyway, enjoy.
I promise you that I am trying to think of things to write, it has just been a slow season of life [and a busy week, however that works] here. I need motivation, chocolate and some encouragement. I think that the New Year's Spectacular should provide all of the above, and I am very much looking forward to it. Warm embraces await. Until next time [week?]. you have my love.
Winter comes and the days all start late
There's motion on the boughs where the dark shapes prowl
Feeling out the feelings
Feeling out the feeling
You know that my life is dull when I have to begin a post with another man's words [though he is quite the man]. But I felt it was appropriate as the actual beginning of winter is almost upon us. Though today was an odd precursor to winter. It rained all morning, and then this afternoon the sun shone and it felt like April all of a sudden, quite strange for a mid-December afternoon. I'm not usually one for wishing for sunshine, flowers and puppies, but I could really use this winter to be short and mostly sunny. I need some bright spots here and there.
Because a) it seems to be a trend, and b) several years of demands, I have resurrected and revamped my original blog. I would like to note that I changed quite a few things on my own. I may be an amateur at HTML, but I can still make things look nice. Anyway, for me this means another place to go and check whether you left comments or not. Please make my time worthwhile.
Bonus. However, you're already here. Thanks for visiting this blog. As you're reading along, feel free to take a gander at some of my original bloggings, and please excuse my sophomoric ramblings. I wasn't as acquainted with the etiquette of the blogging world yet. Anyway, enjoy.
I promise you that I am trying to think of things to write, it has just been a slow season of life [and a busy week, however that works] here. I need motivation, chocolate and some encouragement. I think that the New Year's Spectacular should provide all of the above, and I am very much looking forward to it. Warm embraces await. Until next time [week?]. you have my love.
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