Movies

I saw two new movies: How Do You Know and Black Swan.  Both had stellar leading ladies in Natalie Portman, an Oscar contender for sure, and Reese Witherspoon. 

And tomorrow is NYE...

Christmas 2010

So many memories...dinner at Louis', Mexican, shopping with mom at Target, lunch at Panera, lasagna on Christmas Eve, shopping at Partridge Creek, scotch, Joey's train table, canceled flight, working out, the non-blizzard, seeing a movie "How Do You Know," lunch at the Hyatt...I can write more later. But it was good to have time with the family. 

And I do still miss the class of 1990 reunion. 

Atlas Room

On Saturday we dined at the Atlas Room and enjoyed one of the best meals we've had all year. We started with a Blood & Sand, described as having "The Famous Grouse Scotch Whisky, Carpano Italian Vermouth, Cherry Heering, Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice."  We then shared the seafood stew, with cobia, barramundi, shrimp, clams, and majoram cream. All I can say is that it was delectable.  Then we also shared the flatbread with spiced butternut squash puree, goat cheese, and parsely/herb gremalata.  Oh gosh that squash was perfect.  We also shared the lamb duo, described as "saddle and top round, crackling, sauteed mushrooms, fingerling potato, and broccoli rabe." Yum. Almost as good as the Australian embassy lamb!  We also shared a tort/chocolately/wafery dessert.

So good. Great service, a perfect cocktail, and terrific food. We'll be back.

Favorite Albums 2010

The National's High Violet: Favorite Tracks--Bloodbuzz Ohio, England

Band of Horses' Infinite Arms: Dilly, Factory

Delta Spirit's History From Below: 911, Bushwick Blues

Frightened Rabbit's The Winter of Mixed Drinks: Living in Colour, Nothing Like You, The Loneliness and the Scream

The Head and the Heart's The Head and the Heart: Down in the Valley

Josh Ritter's So Runs the World Away: Lantern, Change of Time

Justin Townes Earle's Harlem River Blues: Harlem River Blues, One More Night in Brooklyn

Lissie's Catching a Tiger: Bully, In Sleep

Mumford & Sons' Sigh No More: Sigh No More. Little Lion Man

The Mynabirds' What We Lose in the Fire We Gain in the Flood: What We Gained in the Fire, Let the Record Go, Numbers Don't Lie

Shout Out Louds' Work: Walls, 1999

Sleigh Bells' Treats: Rill Rill, A/B Machines

Stars' The Five Ghosts: Fixed, Wasted Daylight

Tired Pony's The Places We Ran From: Northwestern Skies, Get on the Road

Pretty Good Top Ten

Good top ten list.

Anything with Lissie, the Head & the Heart, Mumford & Sons,  Band of Horses, and Sleigh Bells is good with me.

Great Results Quote

"Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people."
  --  Eleanor Roosevelt

Snow, No

Yesterday we got our first couple of inches of snow for the year. I'd be very happy if that was all the snow we were to receive this winter. I hate winter, I hate snow, I hate how dark it gets so darn early, and I am already ready for March.

And then they were saying it could snow again on Sunday, one year since last Winter's first snowpacolypse. Ugh, ugh, ugh. But now they are backing off. I really don't want to see snow fall again all winter.

I am sort of in a grumpy mood about winter this year, and in denial about Christmas being only 8 days away. I really haven't bought Christmas gifts or even thought about what I want to get. I am most excited to go home to see Joey. And just to get away from the house for a few days.

Boo to the snow, and I hope I get that holiday spirit soon.

2010 Round Up

Lots to read here at Time's Top Ten.

Of note: Baseball's imperfect game by a Tiger, Fringe's Peter episode, top albums like the National,  and much more. Good time waster.

Busy Weekend

We stayed busy this past weekend--picked up the car at Dulles at Friday, then dinner at Liberty Tree (Yummy Lobster Mac & Cheese!), and then watched a Fringe marathon.  Saturday we stopped at the neighbor's house, then off to Baltimore and then to Jenny & John's party.  And Saturday we stopped at baby Cecelia's baptism brunch before watching a day of football with Bill & Jen. I enjoyed getting together with friends, but we were so freaking busy.  And we've got a few more things planned this week, including a super busy Friday saying good-bye to the Brickskeller before it is reincarnated into something new.

I desperately need to start Christmas shopping. I got a WH Christmas ornament for Paul & Megan but that's been it. And a book for the husband. I am a slacker.

Memories V

I was not such a great fan of the Fifth grade. We had our clique, with the Nicoles. Broken by the end of the year and the hazards of cliques appeared. I didn't like my teacher. I remember hearing the news that the sixth grade teacher died. I remember science and hating it. I remember seats together and thinking of my dream house. I remember "staring" and feeling self-conscious. I remember trying and failing to make sports teams, and hating that it was already turning into a clique of popular people, who at one point or another carried Esprit bags or wore Gap jeans.  I remember the last year of those uniform jumpers and wanting to be with the "big kids" at mass. I don't remember liking the fifth grade as much as the fourth.

Better Than Ezra, Again

Sal and I are heading to see Better than Ezra for the upteenth time tonight at the 9:30 Club. I still feel rather sickly with my nasty cold, and it is frigid as all hell out there. But I will have a good time and sing along to the familiar songs, and enjoy the music, just like I did when I saw them for the first time back in 1998.

We saw them last about 18 months ago, and being that they're a big touring band, it was about time they came around again. I've been very negligent in my concert going, with only DMB this year.  I saw several shows on the calendar that I'd love to go to, particularly Justin Townes Earle and Pete Yorn. I need to make an effort to get to the Rock & Roll Hotel, even if it is a school night. I love good music too much not to go!

Update: Set list. 

RIP: Elizabeth Edwards

I certainly did not agree for her politics, but three children lost their mother today. So very sad. RIP Elizabeth Edwards, and I hope you reunite with Wade.

New Favorite Tunes

Thanks to NPR's music, I discovered the Head and the Heart last week and I've been listening to it non-stop since then. They are sort of like the Avett Brothers. Great singer-songwriters, listenable and catchable tunes.

I've discovered lots of new music this year...Mumford & Sons, Frightened Rabbit, the Mynabirds, Matt & Kim, Lissie...great stuff.

Memories IV

Fourth Grade...It was a pretty good year. I remember more math races and Miss Marie. I remember seats in science and having to replicate Jupiter, with that gigantic sheet. I remember hating to compete with Julie for that first seat. I was already getting self conscious. I remember square dancing lessons--no, was that fifth grade? Or fourth? Camp. It was a big deal then.

There were still slumber parties and Girls Just Want to Have Fun and Madonna and Cyndi Lauper and dressing up like we were older.  Is that when Diane moved away?

I remember when only me and Eric B. finished those story problems and we were the only ones to get the trick question right...dozen=12, not 1. 

I remember book club, and getting my new order the day the Challenger blew up. Almost 25 years ago! I remember saying to mom, "The one the teacher was one?" and not knowing how I knew that. Maybe I had heard it on the news. It was a growing realization of the news, having known about things like the Cold War and the anniversary of the Statue of Liberty. A beginning of a political consciousness.

I think things became more socially complicated in fifth grade...fourth grade was ok. Not terrible, not bad.

Memories III

Second grade...not my favorite year. Insecurity, math races, First Communion.  I remember that coffee can bread.  I remember Laura being our lunch girl and doritos.  I remember not being a brownie--or was that third grade? I remember songs. I remember having a little brother in kindergarten.  I remember feeling a little hard to fit in.

Third grade...more math races and feeling self-conscious about winning.  Cabbage patch kids.  Being the kid in the primary grade building, with two little brothers. We made volcanoes and studied the space program. I remember getting my ears pierced.  I remember those green bulb candies.  I remember the Tigers winning the World Series and having Spirit Day/Bless You Boys day.  I remember classmates' losing their dads. I remember the arsons in Detroit and fire engines and sirens. But I think we all blended in, still, enjoying the slumber parties and friends that were boys like Chad and Steve.

Top Ten Lists To Begin

One thing I like about December is that it is best of the year list time. The first lists have already appeared and I'm more of a fan of Paste's Best Albums of 2010/. 

I definitely agree with several of their choices; notably #38 Josh Ritter, #36 Spoon, #34 Girl Talk, #33 Blitzen Trapper, #29 Freelance Whales,  #27 Vampire Weekend, #26 Lissie, #15 Justin Townes Earle, #14 Band of Horses, #11 The National, #10 Frightened Rabbit, #7 Arcade Fire, #6 Sleigh Bells, and #3 Mumford & Sons.  Lots of good choices here...I might have added Shout Out Louds, but I won't quibble, too much.

More best of lists to come!!!