HH's Best of 2010

If you spend any time on the internet you know that the end of the year means endless "best of 2010" lists. Best movies, tv shows, books, music, celebrity bods etc...

Inspired by one of my favorite bloggers, Linda Holmes I just wanted to share my "Best of 2010" list. In no particular order these are just pop culture type things that made me really happy this year.

So without further ado:

1. This song. Yes the original is unnecessarily profanity laden. But its such a great song. The edited version is just as catchy and satisfying. I love it.

2. This TV show. There is nothing funnier on TV right now. And this is coming from a person who has unabashedly loved 30 Rock since its inception (foreshadow!). The writing is so fresh and never quits. Originally my favorite person to watch was Joel McHale's Jeff Winger (especially if he had his shirt off!) But in the second season my favorite person on that show is Donald Glover who plays Troy Barnes. He's gone from being a one-note dumb jock to really having some depth. Especially in the past couple of episodes. I think I'm in love with him. AND he used to be a writer for 30 Rock which makes him even more awesome and makes me feel less unfaithful to good ol' Liz Lemon.

3. This blog. The satire is golden. My favorite part about it is the way she spells things. I want to be this woman's friend. She gets it. I feel like some people think she's mean...I guess if you look at it that way. My favorite thing is some people think its real and not satire. Unbelievable. I just see it as someone holding a mirror up to a certain demographic in our culture and having a sense of humor about it. We're all like TAMN in someway...that's why its funny.

4. I didn't see too many movies this year but my favorites were: This one, this one and this one. This year I've really recognized and owned my general dislike of most movies. Mostly because of recycled story lines/characters that get SO boring. These movies were not boring.

5. My favorite album of the year was not Kanye West's like the rest of the worlds (although I am liking it. The clean version of course) but this album. I think I listened to it on repeat for the entire month of April. I know most of you will think its really weird but I don't care. Its a much lighter and happier sound than Demon Days but its just as complex. I loved it. I'd recommend Stylo, Rhinestone Eyes and On Melancholy Hill.

6. I love the Food Network and my two favorite chefs are Alton Brown and Ina Garten. I literally want to be Ina when I grow up. And although Alton is super nerdy his recipes are my favorite. Try his meatloaf or granola.

7. I saw a few concerts this year, Regina Spektor, DMB, John Mayer, Ben Folds...But the concert I had the most fun at was Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. That sixty-something woman wore me out! I've never seen someone have that much fun performing. AND the Dap Kings played the horns on Marc Ronson's Version. Another of my favorite albums.

8. I don't recommend Mad Men to any of my friends really. Its a depressing show with sometimes inappropriate content but its one of the best shows on television. I don't watch dramas but I watch Mad Men. This season they had an episode that featured almost exclusively, my two favorite characters; Don Draper and Peggy Olsen. It was more like a short play than a episode in a series. It might have been the best hour of television this year.

9. I didn't do a ton of reading this year. Well reading of books I should say. I read plenty of stuff online (stupid Wifi and laptop...ruining my love of reading books...) But the best book I read this year was The Help. I was a little disappointed by the ending but it had great narrative voice.

10. This clip. (Advisory: if you don't want to see Tracy Morgan in a white spandex body suit don't click on that link) I don't watch of Jimmy Fallon often but one thing I like about him is he has fun on his show. Genuine. Unabashed fun. Without putting anyone down or being gross like Leno and Letterman. He plays charades and Operation and stuff. Its fun to watch. AND he's got The Roots as his in house band. Pretty cool.

There you have it. Did all those links drive you crazy? I'd be cursing me if I were you.

Happy New Year!

Snapshots

What?! I haven't written since Halloween. Shame on me. Honestly, and I'm not just saying this...I've been really busy. Like maybe busier than I ever have been. Ever.

Now that the hyperbole is over with I just wanted to share a few...snapshots...if you will. And I know, reader, that you will...

1. I'm going to take a break from ordering things online. Last week I ordered a new 'work' swimsuit (an athletic swim suit not a cute hot-tub-with-your-boyfriend swimsuit, you get me?) from Nike.com. A box came from Nike today and I opened it with the anticipation that all packages are opened with to find a...pair of board shorts. Wah-wah. So I call Nike's customer service where I learn that the swimsuit I ordered doesn't exist. It was a figment of the Interweb's imagination that had the same style number as a pair of board shorts. Darn.

I also ordered a totally cool map from a German website in early November. I have yet to receive it. I know that Europe is far away but I'm pretty sure they aren't sending things by boat anymore. So I emailed a nice German man (typing those two words together feels redundant) named Dirk who told me that "It was shipped via DHL as a "Päckchen", which has unfortunately not tracking code". He offered to send me another one...I told him I'd give the original another week. No wonder DHL went out of business in the US (shouts to Molly!)

2. On my way home from work today I was stopped at a light. I glanced at the car to my left which happened to be a shiny red truck of some kind and in the passenger window staring right at me was Santa. Not making this up. The hair, beard, hat, suit. He smiled and waved his sausage fingers, each one bedecked with a gold ring. Needless to say that brought a smile to my face. How great is Christmas?

3. Speaking of Christmas...the start of a relationship feels a lot like Christmas morning. That mix of excitement and anxiety...you're not sure yet if you're getting a Kindle or a paper back John Grisham from a thrift store...

4. The more time I spend with Jr. High School students the more that I'm sure that their brains are broken. In elementary they're still cute and innocent. In high school they're starting to put the pieces together but in Jr. High there's a huge disconnect. And I'm the b-word that has to hold them accountable and try to treat them like functioning human beings. Which they are not. (this is pretty pessimistic...but the two classes I have right now are pretty tough. I'm hopeful that things will get better)

I feel really good right now. Hope you all feel the same.

Loves and Peaces.