Best of 2007

With the end of the year drawing near, I've decided to give you my thoughts on a few of my favorites. Sadly, I didn't do enough reading this year to contribute a best on what I've read but I am in the middle of The Kite Runner. Here goes my "best of" list for 2007:

• Best documentary: King of Kong: Fistful of Quarters


• Best movie: Waitress


• Best albums: Sky Blue Sky, Wilco; The Reminder, Feist; Back to Black, Amy Winehouse; Easy Tiger, Ryan Adams


• Best concert: Damien Rice
  

Do you have any favorite movies, books, television, concerts or other items of interest from 2007?

Bah humbug

It seems I love to complain about car repairs so bear with me. I took my car in for a much needed transmission flush today and instead of spending $130 I walked out spending $695. I know that everyone else deals with this, too, and it's a necessity but why does it have to make me so crabby? Unexpected car issues set me off like nothing else. After dealing with monthly car woes since October and a deficit of approximately $1400, I'm hoping this is the last time I will have anything else unexpectedly come up for awhile. Bah humbug.

Merry Christmas!

I had a great time at home for Christmas. For four days, I got to see many friends and family members and spend some quality time with Adyson. (Babysitting for a three month old is hard work!!) I didn't take nearly the amount of pictures that I should have; below are just a few highlights. Merry Christmas to all!

Our little fashionista. Look at those boots! Adyson, you make Aunt Amy so proud. I have a feeling your love of shoes will be well nurtured.
Our little "Santa Baby" on her first Christmas.
Amber and Wesley. We took him out on the town and he was so good!
Baby Lynton. I think he looks like the "real" Charlie Brown.
My mom holding Adyson. We babysat on Friday night while Cathy and Bryon finished up their Christmas shopping. I was exhausted. Who would have thought it would take three adults to care for a 12-week old baby?

Beauty and Charity

Breanne bought me a beautiful bracelet from Bead for Life. This program helps Ugandan women turn recycled paper into works of art. In the process, buying these items helps build a better life for these women and their families. It's an amazing program and something Breanne became interested in after seeing War Dance at the True/False Film Festival this past year. The film was moving and Breanne, especially, took note. And not only is the bracelet beautiful but so is this very small gesture to help make the world a better place. It reminds me just how fortunate I am. How many blessings I really do have. And right now I have this very warm, fuzzy feeling reminding me, this is what Christmas is all about.

It's official

It's official. The Writers Guild plans to picket the Golden Globes on Jan 13. Will the show still go on? Will any actors show up? More here.

The skinny on Kenny

Joe thinks this is not something I should admit to other people but I'm going to do it. I like Kenny G.

It all started when I was in high school and my yearbook teacher would play Kenny G nonstop. Now you'd think that would make my friends and I wince but I'll remind you, the class was an hour long. We were cool with listening to Kenny for an hour every day and before long we were singing and humming along and really enjoying it (or maybe that was just me?). When the next school year came around, my teacher had new cds but we were still fond of Kenny. I don't know about my other classmates (except for Amber because she's right there with me) but my fondness of Kenny continues today all because of dear Mrs. Brown.

Anyway, Kenny was here tonight for a concert and, of course, I had to go. I pursuaded Monica to attend with me. Kenny started off the show by entering from the back of the auditorium. We had aisle seats. Kenny stopped right at Monica and thrust his saxaphone in her face. The expression she was wearing was priceless. I erupted into laughter. I couldn't contain myself. I am still embarrassed by how rude that probably seemed to Kenny but just seeing him lock eyes with Monica and start playing to her...I can't even describe it without wanting to laugh all over again.

It was a nice show and I was totally impressed by his band. Each one of them had incredible talents and with the exception of one drummer they'd all been playing with him for decades which says a lot, too. My final thought for the evening - Kenny is so incredibly skinny.

Holiday sweaters galore

This made me laugh.

This could really affect me

I've had a few people ask me if the Writers Guild strike was affecting me. It's not. I only watch a couple of tv shows a week and mostly keep up with television by watching shows on DVD. I may have spoken too soon. Sounds like the strike could keep the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards from happening this year or they could be postponed. This could really affect me. More here.

First visit with Santa

Thanks for all the offers of help, tips and suggestions about how to get my car uncovered. After working on my car for another 45 minutes later in the day (and using a bit of warm water) I was able to free my front windshield from some massive ice. It seems as though I'm now good-to-go until the next ice storm hits which should be later tonight!

Cathy, Bryon and Adyson were here today for a visit. Adyson had to see a pediatric gastroenterologist for her acid reflux and with some more Prevacid I think she'll be a happy baby. I took the day off and we took the opportunity to go to lunch, go shopping and take Adyson to her very first visit with Santa.

Adyson never even woke up to see jolly Saint Nick but that may have been all for the best.

Two months and so big

I need a garage

An ice storm attacked last night. Every church and activity in the area seems to have been called off today. It's late afternoon and I have decided that I will uncover my car. After 45 minutes, it doesn't look the like windshield will come de-iced any time soon. I broke my ice scraper in half but knew I had a spare in the trunk of my car. But of course I couldn't open the trunk with so much ice covering it. With lots of determination I got the trunk open but now it will not close. Even pushing all of my body weight against the trunk it's still not closing and my car is still not de-iced. I guess I'm staying in. Today. Maybe tomorrow.

In the spirit

Natalie was here yesterday and today. We really had a great time together. Today we went shopping and I helped Nat really knock out the rest of her shopping in record time. And, surpisingly, the stores really weren't that crowded. While we were at lunch today, a large group of older men came in and hovered by the door. I wondered what was going on until they started singing Christmas carols. It was some of the most festive and beautiful singing I've ever heard and such an unexpected lunchtime treat.

Tonight Marcia, Diane and I went to see The Santaland Diaries which is a one-man, one-act play adapted from David Sedaris' essay about working as an elf one year in SantaLand at Macy's. It was the perfect combination of laughter and sarcasm. What a great prescription for the hustle and bustle.

The birthday girl

I was on the phone with one of my closest friends the other night talking and catching up; it had been awhile. Below is just a portion of my conversation with "M".

M: "So you have a birthday coming up. What are you doing for your birthday?"

Amy: "Umm, no I don't...Are you serious? Um, I just had my birthday about three months ago, remember? I went to Las Vegas..."

M: silence

Amy: "You didn't forget...You sent me a card and a gift card in the mail for my birthday."

M: "Oh my gosh! I'm going crazy! I'm going crazy! I put a birthday card in the mail for you today with another gift card. That seems like an entire year ago that you went to Vegas. I really thought it had been that long and wondered today why your 'upcoming birthday' - December 10 - wasn't on my calendar like it should be."

Amy: (laughing hysterically) "Did you try looking in September? I'll send the gift card back to you. It's seriously not a big deal."

M: "Keep it, girl. Merry Christmas!"

And for those of you who know M, you know it just makes the story that much more loveable and funny. And I don't want to be 31 already - No way! But my "birthday" card arrived today just the same. Happy Birthday to me!

I can't wait!!

Good for Chase

So even after our disappointing football loss on Saturday night, Chase is still getting an invite to New York as a contender for the Heisman. Good for him! More here.

Weekend review

Well the Tigers' sucess was short-lived but it sure felt good to be number one for awhile even if it was only for a week. Man, that football game was a heartbreaker.

I have started wrapping presents and have pretty much finished up my Christmas shopping which feels good. Every year I obsess about having it all done. I always want to have all of my cards sent out and all my presents bought and wrapped as soon as possible. It's as if I'm in competition with myself.

I had my first Christmas party tonight. One down, four to go.