Things I'm looking forward to

--Upcoming concerts
--Honeycrisp apples
--Pomegranates
--Fuzzy sweaters
--Mulled (spiked?) cider
--Snuggling under blankets in bed
--Winter soups - chili, chowder, bisque, stew, curry; you name it, I'll make it.
--Hot chocolate
--Sitting in front of a crackling fire and listening to music
--The Haunt House
--A possible trip to New York in November to spend time with my best friend, who I haven't seen in over 2 years
--Planning my birthday trip to Portland
--Pumpkin coconut rum soup (yumyumyumyum. yum.)
--Potential out-of-town photo excursions (Glen Rose? Tyler again?)
--Leaves crackling underfoot
--The trees in our front yard doing this again
--Long walks with Callie in cool, crisp fall air

Can you tell that I love fall? I guess my mom named me appropriately.

The week in review

This week, I thought it'd be more difficult to come up with a list of good things; in the balance, the week felt like a decidedly shitty one. But when I started looking back, I realized that there were some great moments in there that made me smile. Here they are:

--The first signs of spring, my favorite season -- the season for airy sunlit walks, gentle breezes (please, Texas?), and sweet smells (I can't wait to breathe in the honeysuckle again!)
--Irish coffee and the best. brownies. ever. (thank you, Dorie Greenspan!)
--Discovering that Twisted Root burgers will soon be a mere 10 minutes away from me
--Getting yet another chance to see my little brother play the cello (his vibrato is awesome)
--Having a long conversation full of giggles with my best friend El, still the only person I can be 100% honest with
--After five weeks or so without a TV, finding out that we'll soon be getting a new one for free. Did I mention that said TV will be twice the size of the old one?
--Coming up with ridiculously funny ideas with Jay and Jason (that are probably only funny to us, come to think of it)
--Getting out of town for a day to take photos at Possum Kingdom Lake/State Park. We saw white-tailed deer darting, a frightened armadillo fleeing, a flock of turkeys rustling their way into the trees, dozens of beautiful hawks braving the strong winds, and a herd of cows lounging by the shore. Even though it was windy and cloudy, I can't think of a place I'd rather have been. Drinking Pinot Noir by the shore of the lake at sunset with awesome company more than made up for any work-related assiness this week.
--Satisfying a sudden urge for gelato by ordering a cup of Mediterranean Sea Salt Caramel (aka Best Gelato Flavor Ever Devised) at Paciugo

See? Not bad at all!

The week in review

Pretty much every Sunday, I spend half the day dreading the upcoming work week instead of actually enjoying what's left of the weekend. It sucks. So I've decided to start making a list of all the bright spots in my week -- whatever's sparked a little joy in the midst of the drudgery. Here's what was cool about my week:

--Getting to spend time with my little sister on her 11th birthday and thinking how strange and wonderful it is that I got to see her take her first breath
--This recipe for chicken braised in Scotch and Major Grey chutney. Words fail.
--The Beaucoup Berries chocolate bar from Dagoba, one small, perfect bite at a time
--My new phone! It's made of awesome.
--Starting a new photography project that will serve as a chronicle of all the days before I move and (I hope) make them more memorable. I savor any chance to live more consciously, to be more present and aware. This is one way to do that.
--Spending quality time with my amazing mom; we always have so much fun together
--Realizing how cool it is that we've started a tradition based on $3 margaritas
--Seeing Slumdog Millionaire for the first time and not being disappointed despite all the hype
--Making plans to take a photography trip next weekend
--Sprawling out by a fire on a cold night, drinking in Dvorak and Berlioz and Holst and feeling my whole body expand with the beauty of it
--Pomegranate saketinis (an idea that came to me early in the week) in my beloved green martini glasses
--A certain upcoming visit from certain Portlanders being confirmed (with certainty) :)

The definitive "Why Portland Is awesome" post

Yes, I've already listed a bunch of reasons why I love Portland. I've posted pictures, related anecdotes, and generally rhapsodized about the place. Maybe I was exaggerating a bit -- after all, Portland is not perfect, and it has its drawbacks just like any place. But the way I felt there was no exaggeration. I felt home. The city is tailor-made for me. And ever since I've been back, I've felt a little homesick. So in the spirit of the holiday season, I feel compelled to post an exhaustive Compendium of Awesome, starring the fine city of Portland, Oregon.

Warning: reading this post may cause a sudden, burning desire to pack up and move to Portland immediately.

For the word nerd
For the foodie
For the music lover
For the nature enthusiast
For the film & TV buff
For the eco-conscious
For the artist
For the daytripper
For the conscious consumer

For the word nerd:
--Portland holds an annual literary festival called Wordstock. The book fair hosts readings, signings, and panels, and other events include a poetry slam competition, a live radio variety program, and an evening event called the Text Ball (with prizes for the most grammatically correct costume!).
--Powell's City of Books is the largest independent bookstore in the U.S. and covers an entire city block. It's open 365 days a year and holds over four million new, used, rare, and out of print books. You could spend a week in there and still find stuff to do.
--Beloved children's lit author Beverly Cleary is from Portland, and there's a Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden in the city where children can play. On the opposite end of the literary spectrum, author Chuck Palahniuk is also from Portland.
--Dark Horse Comics, the largest independent comics producer in this country, is housed in Portland and has an amazing library of titles, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, Star Wars, Sin City, Hellboy, Aliens, and Predator.
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For the foodie:
--As I've mentioned before, James Beard, father of American gastronomy and author of 20 books, grew up in Portland. The prestigious James Beard Foundation Awards, held every May, honor the best chefs, restaurants, cookbook authors, and journalists (among others) in the country.
--Tillamook cheese probably wouldn't be around today without cows and equipment from Portland. The town of Tillamook is about an hour and a half away from Portland (one of many potential day trips from the city).
--Stumptown Coffee is an amazing independent coffee chain in Portland that buys and roasts its own coffee. The owner travels all over the world and forms relationships with coffee producers; he's even formed a non-profit that supports Rwandan coffee cooperatives. Stumptown offers Fair Trade Certified and organic coffees and takes pride in its sustainable business practices, both at home and abroad. I've ordered Stumptown coffee from their website, and it was freshly roasted and delicious.
--Portland boasts some of the best farm to table restaurants in the country. One example is The Farm Cafe, which uses locally grown produce and locally produced wines and spirits to create its constantly changing menu. The upside? Your food is fresher and more tasty, and you don't have to feel guilty about supporting evil corporate agribusiness.
--The abundance of wineries, breweries, brewpubs, and microdistilleries. There are even "brew and view" movie theaters that serve local microbrews and food that you can enjoy during the show. Oh, and Oregon Wine Country is about 25 miles from Portland. And there are at least 5 major beer festivals every year. There are more breweries in Portland (around 30) than in any other city in the country.
--Portland Farmers Markets are open April through December and provide a direct link between farmers and consumers. Portland (well, the entire Pacific Northwest) grows the most beautiful, fresh produce year-round, including some of the best berries in the world. Walking around Portland, you can find tons of wild blackberries that are safe to eat. We even found the most amazing apples growing wild on a tree in a residential neighborhood, free for the taking.
--Voodoo Doughnut and Wedding Chapel. The freshest, weirdest doughnuts you'll ever eat. Try a Maple Bacon Bar for starters and then check out their vegan selection to feel a bit more virtuous.
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For the music lover:
--Bands and musicians from Portland include The Decemberists, The Shins, Modest Mouse, The Dandy Warhols, Sleater-Kinney, Elliott Smith, Stephen Malkmus (of Pavement fame), M. Ward, The Kingsmen ("Louie, Louie"), Everclear (Art Alexakis), Spoon (Britt Daniel), Courtney Love, and Death Cab for Cutie (Chris Walla).
--Local music venue The Doug Fir Lounge is comfortable and stylish and has an attached restaurant and bar. We saw 3 bands for $5 there on our first night in Portland. They had free drinking water at the bar! And it was non-smoking, so you could actually breathe in there.
--The Oregon Symphony hosts outdoor concerts on the waterfront; the Oregon Zoo hosts a summer concert series.
--There's an annual Portland Jazz Festival.
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For the nature enthusiast:
--What isn't there for the nature enthusiast? You have mountains, old-growth forests, rivers, gorges... Portland even lies on top of an extinct lava field (the Boring Lava Field, which makes me laugh). There are great trails and hikes, and even in the middle of the city, you can find gorgeous wooded parks.
--Portland is known as the City of Roses; there are rose festivals a couple times a year and a huge test garden that holds over 550 varieties of roses. It's been in continuous operation since 1917.
--Portland boasts the most authentic Japanese garden in North America and the largest classical Chinese garden in the country.
--You can take an ecotour from Portland to the coast, stopping at scenic spots along the way, to go whale watching. A full-day whale watching trip won't even set you back a hundred bucks. Portland is also home to bald eagles and peregrine falcons; sightings of both are common.
--The Columbia River Scenic Highway takes you past magnificent landmarks like Multnomah Falls (look at it frozen!) and the Columbia River Gorge, not to mention stunning scenic overlooks and lush forests. It also features the greatest rest stop ever, Vista House, which is only 15 miles east of Portland.
--Even though it rains half the time, Portland has one of the most temperate climates in the United States. It has a narrow range of temperatures year-round, which means that summers aren't too hot and winters aren't too cold. When it does rain, it's not always the dreary, heavy rain that we experience in Dallas; it's often light, misty rain, and it comes and goes throughout the day. Plus, without all the rain, it wouldn't be so green!
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For the film & TV buff:
--Matt Groening (The Simpsons, Futurama) is from Portland.
--Directors Gus Van Sant (Milk, Good Will Hunting), Todd Haynes (I'm Not There, Far From Heaven), and Todd Field (Little Children, In the Bedroom) are also from Portland. So are actors Clark Gable, William Hurt, Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica), and Lindsay Wagner (Bionic Woman).
--Mel Blanc (Bugs Bunny!) is from Portland.
--The movie Into the Wild was filmed in Portland.
--The city holds numerous film festivals every year and has a renowned film school.
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For the eco-conscious:
--Portland is often called the greenest city in the United States. City planners have been thinking green for over three decades and have established strict land-use policies and urban growth boundaries. There are hundreds of protected natural areas around the city and tough anti-sprawl ordinances. Sustainability is more than just a buzzword; it's actively practiced. Renewable energy, green buildings, effective mass transit...these all make Portland one of the most ecologically friendly cities in the world.
--Bicycling is not only safe in suburbia; urban cycling is typical, thanks to Portland's bike-friendly accommodations. It's often rated one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world, with over 260 miles of bike lanes and paths.
--Portland was the first city in the U.S. to make and enact a formal plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
--Freecycling thrives in Portland; it's a nonprofit movement that allows people to give away their unwanted items instead of throwing them away. It's completely free and legal, can save you money and time, and best of all, it keeps unnecessary waste out of landfills.
--Portland has 92,000 acres of green space, including the country's largest wooded city park (Forest Park, with over 70 miles of trails) and the world's smallest city park (Mill Ends Park, which is two feet across and was originally supposed to house a utility pole).
--Zipcar is available in Portland; the service allows you to reserve a car (including ZAP electric cars) by the hour or the day. Cars are parked all around the city; once you reserve one by phone or online, you just walk up to it, hold your ZipCard up to the windshield to unlock the doors, and drive away! They're located in 13 cities, from San Francisco to Boston to New York to Vancouver, and you can use your card in any of those cities if you're a member. ZipCar pays for gas and insurance, too.
--In addition to bicycling and public transit accommodations, the city is very pedestrian friendly, with compact square blocks and an easy to navigate grid that relies on natural boundaries to divide the city in a logical way. It's so easy to get around there; after a few days, I felt like a native.
--Benson Bubblers, the water fountains dotting the city landscape, reduce reliance on bottled water for many urban dwellers. There are 52 total fountains throughout the city.
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For the artist:
--In addition to a number of art museums, Portland boasts two monthly art walks: First Thursdays in the Pearl District, and Last Thursdays in the Alberta neighborhood. Galleries and shops keep their doors open late and serve appetizers and wine.
--For homemade, hand-crafted gifts, there's no greater place in Portland than the Saturday market (which is actually open on Sundays, too). Artisans and international food vendors descend on downtown every weekend from March to December to sell their wares, which include fine art, photography, candles, clothing, home accessories, woodwork and metalwork, pottery, ceramics, and even pet products.
--Parks, squares, and fountains around the city are enhanced by public works of art, including sculptures and murals. The bronze sculpture Portlandia is one of the city's most famous.
--Portland is a photographer's dream, mixing natural beauty with eclectic city landscapes at almost every turn.
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For the daytripper:
--Portland is 70 miles from the Pacific Ocean and about an hour from Mt. Hood. Cannon Beach is an hour and a half drive from the city. So is Tillamook (mmm, cheese).
--Timberline Lodge, where The Shining was filmed, is about an hour and a half from Portland.
--The desert of Warm Springs is a two-hour drive; so is the city of Eugene.
--Mount Saint Helens is just under two hours from Portland.
--Seattle is just over three hours away; Vancouver about five.
--The Amtrak Cultural Cascades route connects Eugene, Portland, Tacoma, Seattle, and Vancouver.
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For the conscious consumer:
--Portland does have a 9% income tax, but that's offset by its lack of a sales tax. Plus, it's deductible on your federal tax return. Car registration fees are much lower than they are here in Texas, and you only pay them once every two years.
--Cost of living is slightly higher than it is in Dallas (about 5-7% higher), but it's still one of the most affordable cities on the west coast.
--Public transit is free downtown (it's called Fareless Square). That includes buses, streetcars, and light rail. The light rail system extends all the way out to the airport; the fare from the airport to the heart of downtown is only $2.30.
--You can see second-run movies at the "brew and view" movie theaters for $3.
--Most places have free wifi.
--The outdoor summer symphony events are free.
--Some breweries, like Widmer, offer free tours of their facilities.
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I wasn't kidding when I said exhaustive! I'm very passionate on the subject, as you can see. :) Also, I like having all these lists on one page so I can visit it when Dallas is pissing me off. Like today, with the inexplicable return to 75-degree temperatures in the middle of December.

Viva Portland!

Not as easy as it seems

If you had to pick 10 bands that would explain your taste in music to a perfect stranger, what would they be?

Here are mine:

1) Led Zeppelin
2) Old 97's
3) Red Hot Chili Peppers
4) Death Cab for Cutie
5) Wilco
6) Queen
7) Radiohead
8) Boston
9) Fiona Apple
10) Fountains of Wayne

Currently enjoying: Derby, Posters Fade and This is the New You.

20 albums I would own on vinyl if I had a record player

1-9. Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin (1969), Led Zeppelin II (1969), Led Zeppelin III (1970), Led Zeppelin IV (1971), Houses of the Holy (1973), Physical Graffiti (1975), Presence (1976), In Through the Out Door (1979), Coda (1982)
10. Boston, Boston (1976)
11. The Beatles, With the Beatles (1963)
12. Ralph Vaughan Williams, Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis (any recording, really)
13. Sir Edward Elgar, Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85 (1965 Jacqueline du Pré recording with the London Symphony)
14. Jimi Hendrix Experience, Are You Experienced (1967)
15. Johnny Cash, At Folsom Prison (1968)
16. Leonard Cohen, I'm Your Man (1988)
17. Nirvana, Nevermind (1991 - LP version only released in 1996 in a limited run)
18. Queen, Greatest Hits (1981 UK edition)
19. Simon & Garfunkel, Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)
20. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Requiem Mass in D Minor (again, any recording would do)

50 things to do before I die

1. Own a hammock and swing in it all spring.
2. Plant and maintain a vegetable and herb garden.
3. Buy my own home, one with a front porch and a rocking chair and copious natural light.
4. Brew my own beer.
5. Drink Guinness at a pub in Ireland.
6. See Led Zeppelin perform live.
7. Travel to Greece and Italy. And Egypt and Morocco. And India and China. And Australia and New Zealand. And…ok, I’m stopping. But definitely Greece and Italy.
8. Open my business and make it wildly successful.
9. Become fluent in another language.
10. Play viola in an ensemble again (symphony, quartet, whatever).
11. Join a food co-op.
12. Actually take the time to learn yoga and apply its principles to my everyday life.
13. Learn how to ride a horse.
14. Sew an article of clothing.
15. Attend a Wimbledon tennis match.
16. Travel for a month straight…road trip, backpacking excursion, etc.
17. Send a message in a bottle.
18. Attend a musical performance in Vienna.
19. Plant a tree (preferably a fruit tree, in my own backyard).
20. Take a long train journey to somewhere exciting.
21. Spend my birthday / New Year’s in another country.
22. Ask someone out on a date.
23. Go on a rollercoaster tour of the US.
24. Get into peak physical shape just once.
25. Run or bike in a charity event.
26. Visit a blues bar in Chicago.
27. Attend a music festival like Coachella or Bonnaroo.
28. Photograph a rare bird.
29. Attend the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival with my mom.
30. Go on a California wine tour.
31. Visit Trinidad & Tobago.
32. Attend an opera performance at La Scala.
33. See an American Ballet Theatre performance in New York.
34. Walk through an Amazonian rain forest.
35. Memorize my 10 favorite poems.
36. Fall hopelessly in love, no second-guessing or hesitation.
37. Build something cool with my own two hands.
38. Watch a sunrise and sunset on the same day, preferably on a secluded coast somewhere.
39. Go to a major film festival (Cannes, Venice, Sundance).
40. Eat Indian food in India…Greek food in Greece…Lebanese food in Lebanon…etc.
41. Learn to tell a joke.
42. Visit Machu Picchu.
43. Learn to dance, once and for all.
44. Go to a Fancy Food Show.
45. Sell something I’ve made to someone who doesn’t know me.
46. Learn how to invest money wisely and actually, you know, do it.
47. Learn enough to navigate Photoshop on a basic level.
48. Teach a class.
49. Buy a significant piece of art.
50. Identify at least 50 things that make me happy, print them out, and refer to them any time I need a reminder.

Life isn't half bad

Oh, don't you just love days where you're inexplicably buoyed by unseen forces and everything brings a smile to your face? I'm having one of those days today. Everything is making me happy. My car is shiny. I got to eat the most excellent Thai red curry and steamed dumplings from my favorite Asian restaurant. I'm knee deep in the best real-life love story I've read in a really long, long time, which is making my knees weak. The work day is half over. And my iPod is playing the best sequence of songs right now. You wouldn't think such small things could add up to perfect contentment, but you'd be wrong.

Other things making me happy:
--The thought of being in Portland a month from today
--My new red bamboo salad bowl


--The excellent salad we made last night in said bowl
--My new printer/scanner/copier
--Sunlight
--Plans I'm devising in my head for dinner tonight
--The promise of an awesome family get-together, complete with tamales, in just 3 days
--The lingering memory of that pink Prosecco I had weeks ago
--Unstoppable creativity

All in all, I'm feeling pretty charmed.

Songs I never skip

....Well, almost never. There are certain songs that make me stop everything and listen, every time. Some are catchy, some are bluesy, some are sad, some are funny, some are just plain weird. Here are the top 10:

1) "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" (Led Zeppelin) - this one is easy. It's my favorite song from my favorite band. That doesn't mean it's the best song ever, or the most profound...just my favorite. It's hypnotic, and it's devastating, and I love every second of it.

2) "Let Me Take You Home Tonight" (Boston) - I love singing the hell out of this song in my car. That's pretty much it. It's fun. That goes for pretty much every song on Boston's first album (especially "Peace of Mind").

3) "The Hat" (Ingrid Michaelson) - pure catchy joy, and bittersweet lyrics to underscore the lightness. I adore Ingrid. Her song "Die Alone" just slays me.

4) "Chariots Rise" (Lizzie West) - purely for its inclusion in one of my favorite movies, Secretary. This song plays during the film's brilliant, heart-achingly romantic denouement. I swoon every time. [Interesting fact: the original lyrics are "What a fool am I to fall so in love," but they were changed for the movie to "What grace have I to fall so in love." The song is gorgeous either way.]

5) "Let It Rain" (OK Go) - it's the "hallelujah"s. And the simple, yet somehow intricate-sounding guitar melody. I love irregular rhythms. And I love, love, love this band.

6) "Nothing Better" (The Postal Service) - I'm a sucker for a good male-female duet, and this one's a doozy. It's sad and wistful and sweet and like eavesdropping on an intimate conversation.

7) "Fireflies" (Rhett Miller & Rachael Yamagata) - another male-female duet, this one featuring two of my favorite singers singing to each other about youth, love, and letting go. Absolutely lovely.

8) "Somebody to Love" (Queen) - another one that I have to sing at the top of my lungs in my car. I love the theatricality of Queen's music. Freddie Mercury was a true star. And hey, can anybody find me somebody to love? Pretty please?

9) "Traffic and Weather" (Fountains of Wayne) - sexy and funny. FoW know how to paint a picture of the most absurd, random situation and make it hilarious and instantly identifiable. I mean, come on, "We belong together like traffic and weather"? That's ingenious!

10) "Jackie, Dressed in Cobras" (The New Pornographers) - I'm 85% sure that this is all gibberish, but the song is crazy and fun, and I sing along to every nonsensical word of it (that I can understand). Plus: more irregular rhythms!

Of course, these unskippable songs change every now and then, and I left off a bunch of songs that I enjoy pretty much every time they come up on Shuffle (such as "Marie Provost" (Nick Lowe), "Breathe Me" (Sia), "Can't Change Me" (Chris Cornell), "Creep" (Radiohead), "Suicidal Dream" (Silverchair), and "Miss Murder" (AFI)).

What songs make you stop and listen?

Self-love

From Jezebel: 25 Things All Women Should Learn to Do. I especially like this one:

"Take yourself personally.Your persistent low self-esteem: how did it get that way? Were you awkward growing up? Not quick or witty enough? Just ugly? Once you gained a shred of confidence, did you blow your wad seeking out companions you knew would make you feel inadequate? Why? Think you're a narcissist? Or just a weak person? Guess what? We're all different. We're all completely individual assemblages of genetic traits and collected experiences. We're all special, which is precisely what makes us so un-special. If you harbor lingering dissatisfaction with yourself, figuring out what it is is a pretty good way to start coming to terms with that."

There's no greater gift you can give yourself than self-acceptance. And getting there takes a little work. That's why I'm glad I've been single for over 3 years. I've learned to be comfortable with myself; I've learned to love being alone. For me, that was essential -- I couldn't figure out why I was such an insecure, self-loathing mess until I realized that I was trying to be someone else. It took letting go of something destructive to realize that I could be happy without sacrificing who I am and what I want.

See, a few years ago, I was in a doomed relationship. I spent all my energy trying to pretend we weren't entirely wrong for each other, something I knew in the back of my mind but ignored from the very beginning. When it ended badly (as doomed love affairs tend to do), it broke me into tiny, painful pieces, and it took me a long, long time to heal. In some ways, I'm still healing -- I don't know that I'll ever get over that first real betrayal, my first heartbreak. But you know what? I wouldn't go back and change anything, as much as it makes me cringe to remember how pathetic I was. I took so much away from that experience, and as cheesy as it sounds, I'm a much stronger person now. If I hadn't gone through that pain, I probably wouldn't have accomplished half of the things I've done since. Once I woke up from the delusion and realized that I was free to be whoever the hell I wanted to be, flaws and all, it allowed me to be creative again, to try new things, to take some chances. Now, most of the time, I actually like myself. Sure, there are still a lot of things I want to work on, but without the constant self-doubt and self-hatred dogging me, I'm a lot better positioned to conquer those lingering demons and bad habits.

So there you have it: doomed relationships have a silver lining! And if there's any advice I can give my brother right now, it's this: don't fight the pain. Let it come, let it suck, because it will. But know that when the worst of it has passed, it's left you with a whole mess of wisdom. It's up to you to sort through that heap o'knowledge and use it for your own good.

Best of 2007: Entertainment edition

It's year-end review time! Of course, we're already two days into 2008, but I see no harm in revisiting my favorites one last time. And who knows, you may find some new favorites in these jumbled lists.

Favorite new movies I saw in 2007, in order of release date:

• Pan's Labyrinth**
• Zodiac
• 300
• Grindhouse
• Waitress
• Knocked Up
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Interview
• The Simpsons Movie
• No Reservations
• Stardust
• Superbad
• Into the Wild
• Juno
• Enchanted
• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

**technically released 12/29/2006, but I saw it January '07

Favorite TV shows I discovered in 2007, both new and old:

• Pushing Daisies
• Gossip Girl
• How I Met Your Mother (discovered during Season 2)
  
• Battlestar Galactica (caught up on all 3 seasons this year!)
  
• Freaks and Geeks (finishing up the last 3 episodes!)
  
• Weeds
  

Favorite movies not released in 2007 that I saw this year:

• Little Children
• Half Nelson
• Casanova
• The Holiday
• Children of Men
• United 93
• An Inconvenient Truth
• Kinsey
• Rosemary's Baby
• Billy Elliot
• The Departed
• The Descent
• The Illusionist
• The Prestige

Favorite books read in 2007:

• Franny and Zooey, by J.D. Salinger
• The Corrections, by Jonathan Franzen
• Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer
• Harry Potter 1-7, by J.K. Rowling

Favorite music discovered in 2007:

• OK Go, Oh No
• Georgie James, Places
• The Fratellis, Costello Music
• MIKA, Life in Cartoon Motion
• Arctic Monkeys, Favourite Worst Nightmare and Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
• Feist, The Reminder and Let It Die
• Ingrid Michaelson, Girls and Boys
• Silverchair, Young Modern

Songs I was obsessed with in 2007:

• “Fireflies” by Rhett Miller and Rachael Yamagata
• “Let It Rain” by OK Go
• “Places” by Georgie James
• “Your Ex-Lover is Dead” by Stars
• “Yours to Keep” by Teddybears
• "Girl's Not Grey" by AFI
  
• “Henrietta” by The Fratellis
• “Grace Kelly” by MIKA
• “Breathe Me” by Sia
• “Fluorescent Adolescent” by Arctic Monkeys
• “1234” by Feist
• "Cake Parade" by Georgie James
• “2000 Miles” by The Pretenders
• “You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” by Aimee Mann
• “I Don't Feel Like Dancin'” by Scissor Sisters
• “Die Alone” by Ingrid Michaelson
• "Miss Murder" by AFI
• "All These Things That I've Done" by The Killers
• "Chariots Rise" by Lizzie West
• "Nothing Better" by The Postal Service
• "The Hat" by Ingrid Michaelson
• "Crash the Party" by OK Go
• 3/4 of Led Zeppelin's entire oeuvre, as always

Favorite local restaurants discovered in 2007:

• Afrah
• Asian Mint
• Coal Vines
• Greenz
• India Palace
• Noodle Wave Fresh Thai
• Queen of Sheba
• Red's Patio Grill
• Roti Grill
• Tandoor Grill
• Tony's Cafe
• Twisted Root Burger Co.
• Udipi Cafe
• Zander's House
• Zorba's

Favorite local bars/hangouts discovered in 2007:

• The Tipp (Tipperary Inn)
• Fusion Cafe
• Beckley Brewhouse
• The Fillmore Pub

Favorite local event in 2007, hands-down:

• Friday, July 6: Led Zeppelin tribute concert at the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens

I'm sure I'll come back and add to this list, since it gave me the warm fuzzies remembering the joy all these things brought me, but this is all I can manage for now!

A good week

I bought flowers the other day. They're irises - my favorite kind. My mood brightens whenever I see them, and even though they don't smell like much, I can't resist pressing my nose to the cool blossoms every time I pass by.

Did you know that the word "iris" is derived from the Greek word for "rainbow"? And that a fleur-de-lis is a stylized iris? Oh, how I love Wikipedia:

"The fleur-de-lis, a stylized iris, descends from the white iris which is native to Florence, Italy and which grew even in its city walls. This white iris, displayed against a red background, became the symbol of Florence until the Medici family, to signal a change in political power, reversed the colors, making the white one red and setting in motion a centuries-long breeding program to hybridize a red iris. Catherine de Medici carried this symbol of Florence to Paris when she married the king of France, where this most famous of irises acquired its moniker, fleur-de-lis."

Other things that have made me happy this week, in no particular order:

-The movie Enchanted
-Guinness pub glasses
-Family (pets included!)
-Dinner and wine with a dear friend
-Pushing Daisies, still
-The cutest dog in the universe
-Slapsgiving, still
-Double-walled Bodum glasses
-Good parking spots
-The song "Die Alone" by Ingrid Michaelson
-Successful allergy-friendly baking
-Freaks and Geeks and Kitchen Confidential
-My viola
-The absence of soul-sucking work

I am truly fortunate.

Movies I want to see

2007 is almost over...how did that happen so quickly? Anyway, now that my Christmas shopping is done and I have one day of work left (hooray!), I'm free to ponder my entertainment options for the remaining 10 days of 2007. And there are so many movies I want to see right now. Check it:


Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (trailer)
Release date: December 21, 2007
Johnny Depp. Helena Bonham Carter. Tim Burton. Singing. Lots and lots of blood. What's not to love? Plus, looks like Johnny's dusting off his Captain Jack accent. I can't wait to see how this turned out! I'm pretty much guaranteed to love anything Tim Burton puts out there.
Update: saw it! loved it!

Enchanted (trailer)
Release date: November 21, 2007
Can't believe I haven't seen this one yet. As an old-school Disney devotee since pretty much birth, I'm probably going to love this movie. Unless they totally fuck it up somehow, which is entirely possible. The reviews have been mostly positive, though, so I'm not too concerned. I love Amy Adams (she was the only thing I really liked about Junebug. And does anyone remember her as Jim's Season 1 girlfriend on The Office?), so I'm glad she's getting more exposure.
Update: saw it! It was everything I wanted it to be. :) Sweet, funny enough, and entertaining.

Atonement (trailer)
Release date: December 7, 2007
I haven't read the book this is based on (by Ian McEwan, if you're interested), but everything I've seen on it has captured my interest. It's set in 1930s Britain, spanning over 70 years, and the story is powerful enough to make a potentially brilliant film. The previews make this look gorgeous, provocative, devastating. It stars Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, and screen legends Vanessa Redgrave and Brenda Blethyn, and it's directed by Joe Wright, who directed the latest Pride and Prejudice (also with Keira Knightley). I had some issues with that adaptation, but the movie was well-directed and gorgeously shot. I have high, high hopes for Atonement.
Update: What a gorgeous, gorgeous film. It dragged a bit in the middle, but it's such a great story, and the visuals are absolutely stunning.

The Amateurs (trailer)
Release date: December 7, 2007
About a small town that decides to make an amateur porn film. The cast has me dying to see this. Just take a look at these names: Jeff Bridges, Tim Blake Nelson, William Fichtner!!, Ted Danson, Patrick Fugit!, Lauren Graham!!!, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Steven Weber, and Judy Greer! Plus Isaiah Washington, Joe Pantoliano, and Brad Garrett. How could this not be awesome?
Update: Looks like this is getting the direct-to-DVD treatment now, for some reason. Guess I'll have to see it via Netflix! Update #2: Saw it, and it wasn't the greatest, but it was cute and had some pretty funny bits. Glad I saw it for free (online, even -- didn't even have to wait for the DVD)!

PS I Love You (trailer)
Release date: December 21, 2007
I need one predictable, frothy romcom this time every year. Plus - Gerard Butler! Ok, ok...yes, this will probably be terrible, and I'll regret wasting my time. The concept is pretty ridiculous (he tells her how to live...after he's dead!), and the moments that are supposed to be funny in the trailer are the kind of "hilarious" romcom humor that no one actually laughs at, ever. But Gerry Butler! With an Irish accent! And it'll make this giant sap cry and cry. So I gotta go and roll my eyes through the tears. It's my thing.
Update: Damn movie got to me despite my best efforts to resist. I'm such a girl. But Hilary Swank's character was really annoying, so I had to focus on the pretty, pretty boys. Woe is me.

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (trailer)
Release date: December 21, 2007
I'm still a little unsure of this one, but it's co-written and exec produced by Judd Apatow, and it stars John C. Reilly and Jenna Fischer, both really likable and talented actors who've been a part of some of my favorite movies/TV shows (Reilly's role in Magnolia is devastating, and he was hilarious in both Boogie Nights and Talladega Nights, and Jenna Fischer is not only accessible-pretty and a great actress, she genuinely seems like she'd be an awesome person to hang out with in real life). But! The first time I saw the trailer for this, it left me cold for some reason. I'll still see it, though - a Johnny Cash/Walk the Line parody seems right up my alley, and I have faith in all involved.
Update: not very funny after all; gotta learn to trust my instincts. A few silly, enjoyable scenes punctuated the lameness.

There Will Be Blood (trailer)
Release date: December 26, 2007
Speaking of Paul Thomas Anderson, this is his first movie in theaters since 2002's Punch-Drunk Love, and it looks...interesting. Sparse, yet violent. Dark. Complex. Daniel Day-Lewis can always be counted on for a compelling, nuanced performance, and Paul Dano (the mute-by-choice son in Little Miss Sunshine) is a really promising performer.
Update: Like most PTA films, I found this fascinating and impressive, but in a detached, almost clinical way. It did run a little too long, in my opinion. But there's no denying the brilliance of Daniel Day-Lewis; he's just breathtakingly good. I'd like to see this again to get my head around it a little more.

The Savages (trailer)
Release date: November 28, 2007
Another movie with intelligent, even virtuosic actors in lead roles - Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman. I think this one will be depressing, but funny and acerbic enough to be worth seeing. Tamara Jenkins, the writer/director, did Slums of Beverly Hills before this, so she knows how to craft a funny-sad dysfunctional-family film.
Update: Depressing, but very well done. I can see why Laura Linney was nominated for an Oscar. PSH was wonderful, too, as usual.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (trailer)
Release date: November 30, 2007
I can't wait to see this one. It's the incredible true story of French Elle editor Jean-Dominique Bauby, who is paralyzed after a stroke, leaving only his left eye able to move. He then uses that eye to BLINK OUT his MEMOIR. Yeah. And here I am sleeping until noon every Saturday and sitting on my couch all day, whining about how nothing exciting ever happens to me. Wow.
Update: A very moving, but commendably human story. The guy isn't a saint, just a human being, so the movie isn't sappy or rote, just...complex and emotionally stirring. I liked it.

No Country for Old Men (trailer)
Release date: November 9, 2007
From everything I've read, this is the best film the Coen Bros. have made since Fargo. Violence, drugs, Javier Bardem's "I'm a Little Lad" haircut...I'm definitely intrigued. It looks tightly paced, actually scary, and really well acted. I need to go soon, though, because it's only playing at one theater right now.
Update: Wow. What an excellent movie -- the buildup of tension was almost unbearable, and the film was lean and precise. Bardem's portrayal of the killer was truly, truly frightening.

I'm Not There (trailer)
Release date: November 21, 2007
I've tried to get into Bob Dylan, really I have. I just don't dig his music, not really. A couple of songs, sure, but on the whole? Ehh. But a film with six Dylans, from Richard Gere to Christian Bale to Cate Blanchett? Oh, sign me up. Todd Haynes, you had me at Cate. Dude.
Update: Cate was fab, but I was ambivalent about the film itself. Interesting concept, but it failed to hold my interest throughout. Could be my Dylan aversion, however.

Lust, Caution (trailer)
Release date: September 28, 2007
Not in theaters anymore, but despite mixed reviews, I'll definitely see this film. Political intrigue+sex=hot. Ang Lee knows his shit, that's for damn sure (Sense and Sensibility? Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon? Brokeback Mountain?). And it's a Focus Features film! I LOVE Focus Features! Atonement's another one. Seriously, check out their roster. They have serious mojo going on.
Update: Hot, indeed. That's all I'm gonna say.

Southland Tales (trailer)
Release date: November 14, 2007
Another one that's left theaters by now, and it got mostly terrible reviews, but the reviews only made me want to see it more. Richard Kelly is either a genius or a kookoopants (both?), but at least he puts ideas out there, makes you think (I'm still alternately confounded and blown away by Donnie Darko). And his movies have stellar, if odd casts. Sarah Michelle Gellar (yay, Buffy!) is in this one, which is reason enough to seek it out. But seriously, a freaking crazy cast in Southland Tales. Where else can you find Wallace Shawn in the same movie as Bai Ling and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson? Kookoo Town, that's where!
Update: I regret wasting my time on this junk. The movie was interminable, the script laughable, and the plot incomprehensible. I hated (almost) every minute.

What movies do you want to see?

Things you should know about me

Autumn essentials, for those not in the know (fortunate souls!):

1. I love photographing my food.
2. My hair always smells good. Like, always. Ask anyone.
3. I'm obsessed with Led Zeppelin. If they ever come to the US, no matter where, I will have tickets the second they go on sale.
4. If I could live out most of my life on a couch watching movies, listening to music, and reading or writing, I totally would.
5. I taught myself to like coffee this year. I'm weirdly proud of that.
6. The second I have enough money, I'm opening my own business. And it will be glorious.
7. One of my only regrets is giving up on playing the viola. If I could go back in time, I would devote more time to practicing so I could join a symphony or even just play in a small ensemble part-time. I miss the feeling of my fingers pressing into the strings. I miss playing music.
8. I sing at the top of my lungs in my car, and I never care if I look silly. There's a lot of head-nodding, lip-biting, air-drumming dorkiness in my car. Oh yes.
9. I'm usually worried about something. It's a sickness.
10. I'm an evening person. I love the hours of 7pm-11pm most of all. What I don't love is the morning. Call me before 10 on a weekend and I will most likely growl at you.
11. I watch entirely too much TV, but I wouldn't give most of it up. TV is good now – it's just a fact that pretentious people need to accept.
12. The 3:15 mark of “Space Captain” by Joe Cocker will never not be funny to me.
13. Silly things make me laugh. Farts still crack me up, and who doesn't think the word “poo” is hilarious?
14. There are 500 movies on my Netflix queue. They won't let me add any more.
15. Lists soothe me. When I'm feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or depressed, I sit down and make lists. Shopping lists. Life lists. To-do lists. Wish lists. I rarely complete all the items on a given list, but that's never the point. Making them is the point.

So there. I started a blog. Are you all happy now?