Wholegrain

100 movies in 2011

wholegrain — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:13:43 +0000

What are your favorite movies?

In late November 2010 I decided that I would try to watch some “classic” films that were supposed to be some of the all-time greats (according to various important/snobby/helpful lists found around the interwebs.) I watched Vertigo, Rear Window, In The Mood For Love and others that either were must-see or recommended as amazing by friends. I loved them. Let me clarify, I LOVED them. The feeling I got engrossing myself in these films was personally groundbreaking. I had to do something with this new gift. I needed more.

I didn’t have a checklist or a schedule or any specifics in mind, I just wanted more. More creativity, more social commentary, more stories, more beauty, more emotion, more feeling, more everything that watching movies can bring us all for that two or so hours while these beautiful pictures move in front of our eyes.

I decided to watch 100 movies that I had never seen before in the year 2011. (Here they are if you want to read as a list)

I looked at lists, I asked friends, I just got lucky, I streamed netflix, I went to the library, I nabbed some off the web (shhh), I went to the redbox. And I did it. Despite being a full time dad and a not-even-part-time designer I saw 100 new films in one calendar year.

I also probably watched like 8 full seasons of television shows and probably rewatched 15 or so movies that I’d seen before (including all three extended LOTRs in 2 days.) Hint: Breaking Bad, Parks & Rec and Community are all superb.

After all was said and done I’d watched more memorable movies in one year than possibly my entire life combined. And I want to give something back to you who are reading this and don’t have the time or patience or want or money or addictive personality to watch all these movies to find the ones that could possibly change your life. I have outnerded everyone ever by designing a geek friendly infographic of the films I watched last year with some facts and details for y’all.

Let me know if you’d like some recommendations or my feelings on any of these movies. And, as always, your recommendations are welcomed. Here’s to another great year of appreciating a modern art form, film.

Best Music of 2011

wholegrain — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:17:28 +0000

You guys heard about this thing called music? It’s gettin around, eh? Coming into it’s own. This year was a bit strange for me and music. I felt this year I really had a relationship in some manner with music. Like we were getting somewhere. We seem to be understanding each other a bit better. Letting each other be ourselves, you know? We had some wild rides, fun times, sad sighs, created memories and just listened to each other this year. I snuck tastes of it when noone was looking like Cliff Huxtable with a dagwood. I forced my toddler son to ingest it like it was cooked vegetables or spinach. I stayed up until 4 or 5 on numerous occasions just to be alone with it. To me this year was a GREAT year for jams.

So I felt like I wanted to give something back to this “thing” that continually gives me gifts like a well off grandma. I decided I was going to copy a friend of mine and make my “best of” list at the end of the year and actually buy albums (vinyl if available, yeah!) from my top 5 or ten. It made for much more pressure in making my rankings emotionally knowing that financially I will backup my decisions. Anyway, I’ve already purchased my top album of the year and can’t wait to get the rest.

I was going to post something totally different this year. I was going to rerank the songs from last year because I was soooo far offf. I mean, Erykah Badu is still obviously #1 but how could I not rank Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings and Best Coast. Lia Ices, Polar Bear (not Panda Bear), ceo, Miami Horror and Drake should have all been at least in my top 20. But I realized the reason that noone reranks lists is because it’s totally boring and mostly dumb because we all fail at lists but they are always right because they’re our opinion. All that to say, here’s my 2011 list. Again, this is what I felt were my favorites of the year. I can’t play an instrument besides a weak beatbox and a little cornet from middle school. So I don’t pretend to know the technical ish. In the words of the Apple Jacks sleepover teens, “We eat what we like!” Right?

Honorable mention (worth checking out):
When Saints Go Machine (wins worst name of the year!) – Konkylie
for fans of: Hercules & Love Affair, electropop, The Knife
If you can get over that name you can enjoy some sweet Danish jams with tons of great vocals and electonic sounds. Recommended for people who are awesome.
Watch/hear “Parix” here

Big K.R.I.T. – Return of 4eva
for fans of: Goodie Mob, Devin the Dude, Scarface, Big Boi
Southern Rap is still alive! Has some good stuff here. This young dude has a head on his shoulders and still knows when to goof with the parental advisory shiiiiiiiiiz.
Watch the video for “R4 Theme Song”

Booker T. Jones – The Road From Memphis
for fans of: Funk, Southern Soul, Charles Bradley
I mean the dude fronted Booker T. and The MGs, gimme a break. This is that real good soul. Cover of Lauryn Hill, Gnarls Barkley, even has that dude from My Morning Jacket on a nice summer style jam. Sick organs.
Performing the Lauryn Hill song “Everything is Everything” with the Roots. Yes.

Thundercat – The Golden Age of Apocalypse
for fans of: Psychedelic Jazz & Funk, George Duke
One of my most anticipated albums of the year. Thundercat is a sick bass player who’s played for Badu, Flying Lotus, Suicidal Tendencies, German Boy Bands and Snoop. “I do believe that hip-hop can be the new jazz, and I’m helping create that.”
He also put out one of the top songs of the year

Others I couldn’t fit on the list but are great are: Julianna Barwick (ambient church choir drones), Feist (you know her), Junior Boys, Ambrose Akinmusire (yay Jazz), Mark McGuire, The Weeknd ( hubba hubba) AND MORE! They just weren’t good enough to make it. Kinda like Tyler Palko (this reference will be lost on everyone in two months).

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And Now, what you’ve all been waiting for…stuff you can make fun of me for. My list of best 20 albums of 2011!! Yay!

20. Youth Lagoon – The Year of Hibernation
for fans of: Beach House, Real Estate, Toro y Moi, the xx
Dream Pop is the new term this year. This Boise teen put out 8 songs that sound exactly like that genre sounds. Here’s a taste!

19. Roots – Undun
for fans of: Hip hop, stories, sufjan (yes Sufjan)
We all know who these guys are. ?uestlove put out a concept album for the bands 13th album.
It’s short. and really good. And Sufjan plays on it. Here’s a short film sample. Heath, you should get this.

18. James Blake – James Blake
For Fans of: Antony, jamie xx, Mount Kimbie, Dubstep
The tennis star jokes are over. The tempo has slowed. Milky smooth sounds with bits of beaty goodness.
Check it out.

17. Washed Out – Within and Without
for fans of: Chillwave, Toro y Moi, a laid back M83
This guy is good. Creating layered echoey (?) soundscapes that make you relax and enjoy that you don’t have a job. I feel like going to the beach or wearing sweats all day when I listen to this.

16. Lykke Li – Wounded Rhymes
for fans of: Feist, Florence & The Machine, Indie Pop, Stars

I mean that song is fire as they say. I’ve listened to it more than I’ve showered this month. Which isn’t much but still more than most songs, maybe.? There are more great songs where that came from.

15. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
for fans of: Bon Iver, Tallest Man on Earth, the 70s
You all know about this

14. Frank Ocean – nostalgia/Ultra
for fans of: The Weeknd, Drake, Ne-Yo, R Kelly, that new kind of R&B that you’re not sure about
Erica introduced me to this thinking that I knew about it. Finally an R&B album I can be proud to push on someone. He hangs out with Tyler, The Creator though so take that for what you will.

13. Holy Ghost! - Holy Ghost!
for fans of: Cut Copy, Miami Horror, Bag Raiders, awesome party electro dance funk
This was produced by my favorite DJ, U-Tern. It has a song with Michael McDonald, sometimes sounds New Order-ish. And makes you wanna get down like a toilet seat in an all-female apartment. Paco, seriously get this now!

12. The Black Keys – El Camino
for fans of: The White Stripes, Blues Rock, Left Lane Cruiser (hahaha)
Y’all know these guys are like whiskey in your ears.

11. Wye Oak – Civilian
for fans of: St. Vincent, Yeasayer maybe?, The Rosebuds, shoegaze?
Reppin’ women lead singers this year in my list, eh? This album is rediculous (in a great way) and makes me kinda wanna like IndieRock again.

Top TEEENNNN
10. Adele – 21
for fans of: Amy Winehouse, Beyonce, Jill Scott, good singin with some soul tinge.
Don’t hate, it really is that good. Screw you elitist indie fools.

9. Real Estate – Days
for fans of: Neil Young, Midlake, Girls, dogs, hangin’ out in hoodies
I hadn’t really heard of these guys enough to actually check em out till now, but wow. I love how this is the ultimate in camping music. Right? I mean think about it. Sorry I don’t have anything better to say than that but it’s great.

8. Tennis – Cape Dory
for fans of: Best Coast, Real Estate, Girls
funny how these last two sound so similar. This is technically 2011 so I threw it on here because I love the retro feeling of this lo-fi music. Plus the band is a married couple! Yay.

7. Mayer Hawthorne – How Do You Do
for fans of: Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Jamie Lidell, Raphael Saadiq
Detroit soul that sounds like modern Smokey Robinson from Stones Throw Records. He’s awesome with a tight falsetto and a great band behind him. The song with Snoop is probably the worst. And that song’s pretty good. I will be getting this on vinyl. Debating putting this in my top 3.

This is not his band but this performance is awesome.

6. Drake – Take Care
for fans of: the hip-hop kinda music that makes you think rap is dead and simultaneously think that whatever this is could be nice too, also Lil’ Wayne, The Weeknd, dbags who think they’re cool
Drake is an addiction for me. I sometimes just have to listen to him but I would never do it in public and assuredly would be ashamed later but the entire time during the experience is amazing. He makes me hate myself, but love certain things about his music (which honestly wouldn’t be that good without “40″ producing 90% of his tracks. He can’t rap at all. But the sing/rapping is where it’s at. I love it, I hate it. Plus Stevie Wonder has a harmonica solo. I mean just look at this guy. What a douche but…still he’s got game of some kind. Canada!

5. Cut Copy – Zonoscope
for fans of: 80s pop, Miami Horror, The Neverending Story, Holy Ghost, The Rapture
This is awesome! Dance with your toddlers for an hour to this and you’ll never go back. At times sounds like Duran Duran, INXS and every awesome 80s new wave dance and then sounds totally new the next minute. At times the lead singer sounds just like my buddy Jon Keller. Which is good since he’s really a great musician too. Dance your toes right through your Toms off you hipsters. BTW, Toms is a good brand.

4. Slow Club – Paradise
for fans of: joyous, charming, folk-pop, necessary good jams
This was the most surprising album of the year for me. I’d never even heard of them until I just read a decent review on like AV Club or something. Seriously, this album is INCREDIBLE! It grows and grows on you like chesthair or Christmas pounds but in the best way possible. Please listen to this and enjoy it as much as I have. Please.

3. Bon Iver – Bon Iver
sounds like: Jonsi, Fleet Foxes, James Blake, The National, ethereal folk
Not much to be said that hasn’t already been. The sound is great, I even like the 80s Chicago-esque Beth-Rest. Y’all know about this.

2. M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
for fans of: The Field, Washed Out, Air France, great life soundtracks for doing anything at all
M83 is great. This album is a double so it will probably cost me some extra when I buy it. But it can’t be denied. Do you hear this? I hear it in my dreams. My waking hours. I breathe it. Indulge yourself. This video will hook you, then go get the album and love it forever.

1. Charles Bradley – No Time For Dreaming
for fans of: retro soul, Menahan Street Band, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, James Brown, stories of tough times
Charles Bradley was a child who lived on the streets, got shipped around, fell in love with the energy of James Brown, was a chef, finally started a band, then they all got drafted to Vietnam, then he went back to being a chef, then a handyman, then had his brother killed by his nephew, then finally found Daptone Records. This man is a miracle, his life, his voice, his studio band (my favorite group in music today, Menahan Street Band) his pain his lyrics are all real. This is the best album in 3 or 4 years.

I’m proud to say I’ve already bought this record. I mean that literally.

So there you have it. The best of the best. Enjoy it while it lasts. You can’t take it with you. Plus, I’ll probably change it tomorrow. But honestly, thanks for at least reading this. You’re a great friend and/or person. Peace be with you, and also with you.

James and The Drifters – Train! EP

wholegrain — Mon, 23 May 2011 17:54:10 +0000

The new James and the Drifters EP, “Train” is available now! I’m pretty happy the way the art fit the music. You can buy it here.

If you catch a show by them in the Fort Wayne area, you won’t be disappointed. Great vibe and great people.

Nothin’ But Birdies

wholegrain — Mon, 23 May 2011 17:45:32 +0000

Just finished the disc stamp for the 2011 Fort Wayne disc golf summer league. What do you think? It’s hyzertime!

Sneak peek.

wholegrain — Mon, 23 May 2011 17:42:39 +0000

An amazing and talented friend/artist Andy Kurzen and I have been designing/illustrating a new board game from the folks at Stratus Games in Arizona. The game will be done very soon. Here are some sneak peeks.

New James and the Drifters shirt

wholegrain — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 19:18:28 +0000

Here’s an illustration for a t-shirt I did for James and the Drifters. They’re a band from Huntington, IN and all the guys are sweet dudes. Check them out here

Best 28 songs of 2010: ranked

wholegrain — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 01:43:49 +0000

Alright so here’s the list in order of the best 28 songs. I couldn’t cut it down any more. I hope you enjoy it. Also, know that I could have had 40 easily but some just weren’t fit.

Ain’t no half steppin’. Ain’t no mountain high enough. Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone. Ain’t no rest for the wicked.
Also, I love sharing.

Speaking of, if you want to be awesome and 28 songs richer, grab em here.
You can disagree with my rankings but Alicia Keys has something on me with that song. Go ahead make fun of what we have, but it’s real. We can take it. Hate away.

Also songs should be played in order shown by above graphic for maximum enjoyment. Bye for now, I gotta rest up for Tron: Legacy 3D matinee tomorrow.

Best of 2010: Albums (ranked)

wholegrain — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 20:45:17 +0000

Well, I wasn’t going to do this but I recently cheated and got a whole bunch of 2010 albums since I posted last. So I’m going to do a ranked fav’s list. In my opinion, this was a pretty good year for music just not for Hip-Hop & R&B. That could be because all my favorite MCs and DJs are getting too old to make any new music. Whatevs.

I’ll start with my almost made it’s…aka the Josh Garvey list:
Chromeo – Business Casual
I don’t understand how they don’t get more/any respect for being the most fun/danceable group that’s currently making music. I know they’re a little over the top with the girl’s legs theme, but it’s mostly harmless, right?

Tennis – Tennis (cassette)
Just got this the other day and I think this would be top 15 if I did this list in a month but I’m not so…. Also, “Marathon” is my current default/go-to song.

Drake-Thank Me Later
Drake is good at what he does.
I know, I know. 2010 marks the year where the songs/artist I want to blindly hate on decide to blow me away with crazy good singles with hooks. Too bad most of the lyrics are still pointless misogyny. (I’m looking at you….everyone on hiphop radio)

Mountain Man – Made The Harbor
My buddy Seth L-Dilla Loch-ness-meuller let me know about this and I’m glad he did. Folky/Acoustic/Bluegrass? Beautiful female voices and beautiful music always win.

ceo – White Magic
I love Tough Alliance so this is just an obvious choice. This continues the same style with some added epicness(?), instrumentation (electronic as it may be) and that good old Jens Lekman-meets-Duran Duran-meets-Air France-meets-Beach Boys-meets-some kinda sailboat mixed with Jamaican Rum? It’s good.

Also just missing the cut are The Foreign Exchange, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Gayngs, Four Tet, and Local Natives. All worth checking out I.M.H.O.

OK here’s the real list you fools:

20. Yeasayer – Odd Blood
Had a thing for them since “2080.” I love those drums. Alot different/better than the past.

19. Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
“Helicopter” is awesome.

18. Aloe Blacc – Good Things
One of the only good soul singers making music right now. And he’s on Stones Throw so you know he’s worth a try. “I Need A Dollar” is timeless. Retro R&B sound is the only way to sing R&B now huh? At least to get me to like it. Or just be Drake, I guess. This is what Marvin Gaye would be listening to if he was alive.

17. Emeralds – Does It Look Like I’m Here?
I think I’m a little too into Electronic music but noone can deny the beauty of this album. Sounds like a dreamsicle. Or a relaxed M83 album maybe? Or a snowball fight in slow motion.

16-13. The National – High Violet,
Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,
Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty,
Black Milk – Album of the Year
They all tie. They are all good. Kanye and Big Boi get docked 2 points for language but Big Boi got 3000 on a few songs, so points up. Also Kanye actually used Justin Vernon for production and sound so points to him also. Black Milk is allowed to say that stuff, his talent is bigger than his ego. Did I just say that about someone who named their album “Album of the Year.” Boys will be boys. The National is good too. They’re also boys.

12. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
Can’t deny that even though I want to not like everything they do, I just can’t help it. It always grows on you. It’s like a music leprosy…but good!

11. Joanna Newsom – Have One on Me
She’s always gorgeous and makes stories into songs like a musical Slick Rick. But with a crazier imagination. And a more distinct harp talent.

10. Jonsi – Go
Don’t know where the umlat key is. Headphones while driving at sunset should be mandatory while listening to “Tornado.” It’s good and great.

9. Toro y Moi – Causers Of This
Got lucky to find this. I think it was a lucky mistake. It’s like sad whities trying to make Dilla music on one track, then Passion Pit-style chill-wave upliftiness on the next…hipsters.

8. The Tallest Man on Earth – The Wild Hunt
The show this summer made this a memorable experience and album. One of the best moments of my year. Also, he’s actually really short. But not with words.

7. The Black Keys – Brothers
I hadn’t really even heard them before this album but I love it. They hooked me with that Jerry Butler cover. I’m a soul sucker and a sucker for soul. Are there other albums this good? Burz? Anyone?

6. Horse Feathers – Thistled Spring
Finally got around to checking them out. Soooooo glad I did. Makes you think Sam Beam is a wuss.

5. Sufjan Stevens – The Age of Adz
(See #12) Only better. Who knew a 25 minute song could keep you captivated the whole time? Sufi knew. He better get to work on them states’ albums, eh?

4. Beach House – Teen Dream
You’ve probably heard it. I really enjoyed it.

3. The Budos Band – The Budos Band III
Soul/Funk/Jazz is where my heart sleeps nowadays. You’ve got to at least stream this. THE BEST label right now is Daptone and these guys are on it. Horns! Drums! Soul! Retroness! Organs! For all you who like lyrics, try this anyway. There aren’t any though. Soooooooo. Maybe you won’t like it. But you should anyway.

2. Sleigh Bells – Treats
Best parts of Go! Team, M.I.A., Beck, Gorillaz, White Stripes? It pumps me right up. Let’s go do something! Wake up, Eliott!

1. Erykah Badu – New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ank
Why couldn’t Part One be this good? This is everything I could have ask for. Her usual killer funk bandfolks making amazing smooth funk music, Madlib, 9th Wonder, Kariem Riggins, even a Dilla song! Plus she’s just awesome! Awesome! Our God is an Awesome God! Please love this as much as me. Thanks.

The Best of 2010 – Part 2 (TV, Music & Movies)

wholegrain — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 09:32:37 +0000

I missed alot of stuff when it comes to entertainment this year. Being a dad seems like a great way to keep yourself from keeping up with all the new happenings you used to be able to keep up with. I didn’t get to see Social Network, 127 Hours, ~~Winter’s Bone or Toy Story 3~~ (I will though). I didn’t hear lots of new music or see many shows. I didn’t even watch much on TV. However, what I did catch I will share here with you as Radical or Bogus to save you 2010 recap time.
Edit: Winter’s Bone is the best movie I’ve seen this year and Toy Story 3 is great too. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is cool enough. Still trying to see Cyrus, Social Network, True Grit, Dawn Treader, and Tron.
Radical TV
Modern Family: Funniest show on TV right now.
Adventure Time:

There are many benefits to your buddy who lives down the street having a DVR. This new show on Cartoon Network is ridiculously creative, funny, and nice and short so that you want to watch like 10 in a row. Check it out.
Community (Season 2): I didn’t really think the first season was much to look at, but this season is incredible. If you watch one episode make it the one where Jeff tries to start a fake night class for credit while Abed and Troy turn their entire dorm into a blanket fort. Best episode of any show I saw this year.
Tremé: David Simon does it again. The music makes you want to move to New Orleans even if you don’t really think you like Jazz.
Yo Gabba Gabba: Your child will love DJ Lance Rock and you will love the songs because they’re really really good.
World Cup Soccer: As unpatriotic as I am, I nearly peed my pants when Landon Donovan scored that overtime goal.
Check It Out! With Dr. Steve Brule:

John C. Reilly is hilarious as we all know but this is a whole new level! “Some dads are not your dad.”
How I Met Your Mother: Still good. Better wrap it up before it gets lost in the maze of trying too hard though.

Bogus TV
Lost: What was my favorite show on television a few years ago, turned into a failure of epic proportions by the second episode of the last season and just flushed itself down from there.
Lebron’s Announcement: I mean, his choice was fine with me, but why be a narcissist about it?
The Winter Olympics: Duh.
Reality Shows:

Every once in a long while there’s an interesting moment, but the same ol’ line about “I’m not here to make friends” is so 2003.
Outsourced:
Scrubs:I know it’s not still on but it sucked so bad I had to include it.
And basically anything that’s not on HBO or Showtime

Radical Movies
TRON Legacy:I pre-ordered the soundtrack by my favorite group (Daft Punk) and I am saying it will be awesome just because I will not allow it not to be.
Inception: LOVED THIS MOVIE.
Harry Potter: Deathly Hallows, Part 1: Really scary and fun, even for someone like me who didn’t read any of the books.
The Secret of Kells: Sweet.
How To Train Your Dragon: Dreamworks hired the creators of Lilo & Stitch for this movie. Really good characters.
Babies: Cute stuff, a little long but worth it.
All Hitchcock Movies: I didn’t see them until this year.

Vertigo, Rear Window, The Birds, North by Northwest, and Psycho are all great.

Bogus Movies
The Last Airbender:M. Night Shyamalan is terrible. Ruined one of my favorite shows of all time by rushing through an entire season’s worth of great material so that he could dress up a bunch of white Norwegians like renaissance performers. Most disappointing movie event of my entire life.

Shrek Forever After: Didn’t see it, but c’mon….
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice: See above.

Radical Music
I’m gonna loosely rank these because there are some I don’t want anyone to miss.

1: Erykah Badu “New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh” This music is everything I’ve always wanted from Ms. Badu.

More goodies (in no order): Sleigh Bells “Treats”, Jonsi “Go”, Daft Punk “Tron Legacy Score” (I have heard one track and will just put it here based on principal.), Sufjan Stevens “The Age of Adz”, The Tallest Man on Earth “The Wild Hunt”, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings “I Learned The Hard Way”, The National “High Violet”, Horse Feathers “Thistled Spring”, Chromeo “Business Casual”, Budos Band “Budos Band III”, Beach House “Teen Dream”, Aloe Blacc “Good Things”, The Black Keys “Brothers”, Black Milk “Album of the Year”, Kanye West “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy”, Big Boi “Sir Lucious Leftfoot”, Jon Keller “Down In A Mirror”, James and the Drifters “Self Titled.”
And never forget my favorite song of the year:

Bogus Music
I’m counting disappointing and overrated as bogus as well as dumb crap albums.
Band of Horses “Infinite Arms”, Broken Social Scene “Forgiveness Rock Record”, Janelle Monae “The Archandroid”, Midlake “The Courage of Others”, RJD2 “The Colossus”, Hot Chip “One Life Stand”, M.I.A. “XXXO”, The-Dream “Love King”, Anything Katy Perry did, anything Lady Gaga did, anything Black Eyed Peas did, basically any hip-hop or R&B that was on a radio station. Oh yeah and LCD Soundsystem “Drunk Girls.”

So there you go. I basically listened to Electro House Dance music and 50′s and 60′s Jazz, and watched old movies all year so I know I missed lots of stuff. Let me know what I didn’t experience that I need to. Thanks.

Later, oh-ten.

The Best of 2010 – Part 1(Life Stuff)

wholegrain — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 07:43:27 +0000

First off, I have to explain. This is the best stuff of 2010. The best. As in my favorite. As in the best I experienced. So it is infallible in it’s claims. I don’t claim to have been hip to everything, but I have some taste and/or a decent sense of humor and/or don’t really take myself seriously. All that said, I’d love to hear your best-ofs. I will put music in it’s own post later in the month. Among other lists.

So here’s part 1 of the best of 2010:

The Burzens moving 7 houses down.

I mean, how can this not be up top? Best buds living within a good disc golf throw with sweet lil Harp and JooJoo growing up near Eliott. Could’ve only been outdone by them moving right next door.

Lil’ Taylor Jean the Denver Queen

My sister had her first baby and she’s the best cutie in Colorado. She’s the best. Can’t wait to see them all for Christmas.

JULY

July was awesome. Three road trips. One totally rad trip to Alabama for a good buddy’s wedding which included a meal in Louisville at the Falafel House. So good. One disc golf trip with some good dudes to Michigan for two days. One overnight drive to Kansas City to visit family and then to Kansas for my cousin’s wedding. Trips included some good disc golf, bros (not that kind), 5-hour energy, swimming pools, throwing up in a parking lot, Usher songs, Law Dawg, camping, a new Chiefs hat, and lots of Tales from Lake Wobegon.

5-hour Energy, Fountain Pops, Google Reader, Disc Golf, sweats pulled up to my knees, string cheese, growing our own cucumbers and peppers.

It’s insane how 5-hour energy literally can help me cheat life. I can stay awake forever!!!
The rest of that list is just cool deals.

Gaining Weight

Since “Easy” has been alive I’ve steadily gained weight for the first time seemingly since high school. Almost 15 pounds this year. It could be the constant swelling from my kidneys from 44oz. Cherry Cokes nearly every day. What can I say, Daddy likes the sweets.

Eliott walking and growing

Amazing.

Amanda running a half-marathon and doing idance

Friggin’ amazing woman.

Collages

Time Life Books, Old magazines, Sunday school materials, Crappy landscape paintings, old watercolors from college, plastic ornate frames made to look elegant. Everyone should be doing this kind of art. It’s fun, it’s creative, it’s literally recycling while making something lame and unwanted into something fun or at least not throwing away something that could still have use.

Board Game League

Tuesday nights were geek nights in the Oakdale neighborhood.

There were more, like the weekend in MI at the condo with buddies, hitting three or four aces with witnesses, personal best disc golf rounds at both Swinney parks, Intramural basketball at HU as a 31-year-old, the Tallest Man on Earth show, the epic jazz vinyl find at Salvation Army, and all the portrait discs in my bag now.

Thank you ’10, you sure did it.