This Year

Been a long year. Fantasy season comes and goes. Two new nephews, born six months apart. Five year anniversary to Jamaica. Trips to Minnesota and California and NC and Colorado and Florida and Texas and Chicago and New York and Atlanta New Hampshire and Ohio and New Orleans and Richmond and New Mexico and Michigan and Charlottesville and Montana. 16 states flown to? Four weddings. And I'm probably forgetting a few places. The Tigers blowing it again. A mini high school reunion. Friends visiting in DC. 40th birthday gatherings. The National concert. Fake snow blizzards. Tantrums. German and Swedish parties. Lots of fire and lots of rain.

And it has been a year,  has it now. Another year, survived. Another year, another week, another day by day. Another hour. Less than two weeks remain.

North Korea News

So Kim Jong Un executed his uncle. Not a big surprise to anyone who follows/cares what's going on in the country that is holocausting its own citizens.

One big question is whether Kim acted out of strength, consolidating the power he has amassed over the past two years, or out of fear that his uncle was building a rival force inside the regime.

Kim already removed the country's top general last year, Cha noted. By taking down Jang, he's axed a powerful figure from the country's dominant Workers' Party.

"It makes you wonder: If he's consolidating his power, what is he building it around?" Cha said. "He's basically attacking the two most important institutions in North Korea, which is the party and the military."

He is a mad man, and you can never taken anything he utters at face value. He's young, entitled, and entrenched in a government that is Soviet-esque in its treatment of dissidents or mere mild threats to the ruling party. Any state that will deliberately starve its own citizens to to increase its own limited largesse cannot be trusted. And this move is meant not to just consolidate power but to inspire greater fear amongst anyone in either the party or the military who might think of a challenge.

The world is watching.

Best TV of the Year

I guess it is not too early for my favorite TV of the year...my thoughts:

House of Cards: Insanely addictive and binge-worthy, and I can hardly wait for the new season on February 14.

Mad Men: Because of that final Hersheys episode. Not the weak LSD inspired ones.

Nashville: Because of the music. And its soapiness.

General Hospital: Because of all of the comebacks, capped off by Robin returning to Patrick. Happy 50th, and many more!

Arrested Development: Because of its ambitious return, and it was a worthy comeback, even though it never be what it was because its development was truly arrested by Fox.

Big Bang Theory: Because of its heart, and Penny and Leonard, and Sheldon and Amy. Shamey. And Bernadette and Howard. And Raj. Loveable Raj.

How I Met Your Mother: This last season is sucking it up, but I am watching just to see the payoff in the end.

Downton Abbey: Even though I cannot forgive them for murdering Matthew. And I still cannot bring myself to watch that episode.

And for the shows I have yet to watch...Orange is the New Black and the Americans and Breaking Bad. Maybe I will get to all of these in 2014? And Scandal, too.

Escape from North Korea

I'm planning to go to a screening and discussion for this new documentary on North Korea after work. With all of the news lately, with Merrill Newman's detainment, new satellite images of North Korea's prison system, and Kim Jong Un's cutting off of his uncle, I think it will be a very timely discussion.

Everyone is Starting Something New

Loved this Onion piece:

“Our results indicate that those around you are all turning a new leaf, moving forward to face a fresh challenge, and embarking on periods of immense personal and professional growth, while you on the other hand are in a phase of total stagnation, if not regression,” said head researcher Dr. James Messemer, adding that the data also suggests that everyone sees the clear contrast between those who are really blossoming by moving on to meet a new opportunity and you, an individual perceived as being stuck in a rut, left behind, or simply someone who has already reached their potential. “Our study proves that, unlike yourself, all of your peers are enriching themselves by experiencing the triumphs and failures associated with any new personal journey, a journey that will ultimately be looked back upon as the most fulfilling part of these individuals’ lives. Meanwhile, you remain trapped in a state of perpetual—well, our researchers would have to call it ennui, as there is really no other word for it.”

I certainly feel that is true, sometimes. Like is this what my life will be like every day from now on? Work, go home, maybe go running or to yoga, maybe a reception where I grow older and everyone else is the same age? I guess it is some kind of "ennui."

I hope my chances of changing this are more than 7%, though....

Thanksgiving Memories 2013

1. J's obsession with his little cousin C. OMG when he kissed his photo on the iPhone...
2. J's cheating at Candy Land and subsequent tantrum. Like father, like son...
3. J's incessant photobombing.
4. Hearing the story of J's paper purses for his kindergarten classmates.
5. JR's cute, sweet smile. So cute...
6. Lunch with mom at Panera and looking at houseware items.
7. My mini-HS reunion. Feels like yesterday.
8. C's big boy outfits. And is he ever a big kid!
9. Kicking as$ at fantasy football with my record 230 point win. And victories by the Lions and Cowboys, a first.
10. Playing blocks and building a village with J.
11. That absolutely amazing Auburn-Alabama finish. 
12. All of boys playing in the basement playroom.
13. Talking with dad on the way from the airport.

So many great memories...