Best of Edition

Perhaps spurred on by my cousin Howard, I feel like writing a 2010 Best of retrospective because that's what you do as you look back at the year that was.

Best Movie: Either True Grit or Inception. The only thing that bothered me about Inception was the four part ending tour de force at the end. It seemed that Nolan was trying to jam as much action and tie up as many storylines within a short time frame. It felt rushed, and was a bit out of sync...but, it's all a dream anyway, or was it?

True Grit on the other hand was a fun film from start to finish with great direction from the Coens and some wonderful acting from the cast. There really isn't much I can say wrong about the film in any shape or form.

Best New Album: Tom Jones, "Praise and Blame". Yeah, that Tom Jones. The Tom Jones that sings about being a "Sexbomb" Tom Jones. Apparently, Tom Jones went down to Memphis and pulled a Johnny Cash by going with sparse arrangements and singing about a life filled with regret and redemption. The result is a wonderful, and at times, chilling album. What "Praise and Blame" does so well is tell the story of a journey towards redemption...whether that redemption may be in the arms of a caring God, or just finding yourself along the way. There's some really great performances along the way, and Tom Jones has always had a great voice, so I would just say check it out because it's really worth it. For your listening pleasure here is the song "Burning Hell" which is the perfect example of the point the album is trying to convey. Maybe there ain't no Heaven...Maybe there ain't no Hell.



Best Video Game: I have to go with Red Dead Redemption on this one because no game captivated me for so long as this one. It was a combination of a great story in single player and the absolute freedom of doing whatever you wanted in a jammed packed Free Roam Multiplayer. I can't think of any other game where just jumping off a cliff or riding a stagecoach into a raging river was so much fun. Everything about this game was well done...from the voice acting to the graphics to the sound (a gunshot from a revolver sounds different than a repeater) to the horse physics. Hell, even the soundtrack was amazing. All I can say is I spent nearly 300 hours with this game (I was unemployed) and enjoyed nearly every minute.

Best TV Show: Hands down, "The Walking Dead" was the best show on television since "Angel" signed off so many years ago. The tale of former sheriff Rick Grimes trying to come to terms with a world that has been forever changed by a zombie apocalypse never failed to deliver in dramatic moments. You may have written off the show because it's about zombies. But, it's about so much more. Zombie media has always been more about the reflection of society rather than just a straight horror story. Add to this that the story tellers are unsympathetic as to how they tell this story, and you have a wonderful new AMC series. Here is the opening scene from the pilot. I was hooked after this:


I said they were unsympathetic.

Top Listening from 2010 from last.fm

I joined the website last.fm and it tracks your music listening from your computer. What follows are my Top Ten lists courtesy of the site.

Top Artists
1. Johnny Cash 1,649 listens
2. The Beatles 1,520 listens
3. Queen 946 listens
4. George Harrison 423 listens
5. Paul McCartney 344 listens
6. John Lennon 297 listens
7. Eric Clapton 295 listens
8. Nirvana 273 listens
9. Queen + Paul Rodgers 266 listens
10. Foo Fighters 235 listens

Top Tracks
1. Folsom Prison Blues (Johnny Cash) 28 plays
2. Compass (Jaime Lidell) 28 plays
3. I Still Miss Someone (Johnny Cash) 27 plays
4. If I Give My Soul (Tom Jones) 23 plays
5. Now I'm Here (Queen) 22 plays
6. Burning Hell (Tom Jones) 21 plays
7. Love of My Life (Queen) 19 plays
8. Say It's Not True (Queen + Paul Rodgers) 19 plays
Several songs tied at 18 plays

Top Albums
1. Live in Ukraine (Queen + Paul Rodgers) 156 plays
2. Praise and Blame (Tom Jones) 156 plays
3. Personal File Disc 1 (Johnny Cash) 148 plays
4. Help! (The Beatles) 131 plays
5. At San Quentin (Johnny Cash) 129 plays
6. The Beatles Disc 1 (The Beatles) 115 plays
7. Sheer Heart Attack (Queen) 96 plays
8. Unearthed Disc 5 (Johnny Cash) 92 plays
9. Beatles For Sale (The Beatles) 92 plays
10. Murder (Johnny Cash) 91 plays

And, there you have my two cents of how the year was on an entertainment level.

Another year over...

"So, this is Christmas.
And, what have you done?
Another year over.
A New One just begun."
John Lennon

2010. I will look back with disdain at this past year. It was the first Mother's Day without my Mom, and it was a sad time for the family. 2010, I was unemployed most of the year, and with millions of Americans was left searching for a job in a skinny job market. To end the year, Marion was diagnosed with cervical cancer.

The New Year is always one met with optimism as people look forward to starting anew and making unrealistic resolutions that they'll never keep. Maybe I'm jaded, but all I'm looking forward to this year is surviving another year in suburbia.

All I really want in this coming year is for Marion to start her treatments and to eventually get better. When I look back at 2011, I want to look back at the year as the year that Marion defeated cancer. That's all I really want in 2011.

As far as personal goals, I think I'll start something this coming year. Maybe I'll start writing "The Adventures of Gitchie Gatchy Goomie" like I wanted to for the past few years. I'm really not sure what I'll be doing...

"And a Happy New Year.
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any tears."

Nothing of note.

I feel good that there's not to much to write about recently. Thanks to the economy taking a belly flop on the back of the common man, well, I don't have a job to moan about to you either. I feel kind of blessed in that regard because I have more time to spend with Marion during this initial stage of diagnosis and treatment. There's plenty of time to troll the various job boards for a job. I can send out my resume, and hear nothing, just like the day before. And, for now, I'm cool with that.

Marion has pain every once in a while, and we know it's due to the tumor she has, but there's just not much we can do until the 3rd when we go for another Dr. appointment. She has pain medication that frankly doesn't work all too well. At least it's better than nothing. It's weird though because as far as the pain, she can be doing nothing and all of the sudden buckle. It makes me sad...

But, overall, she's doing well. She hasn't bled of note since December 8th when she was at the hospital. We go out maybe once or twice a week. We went to Wal Mart yesterday and that was like a huge deal for her. It's just kind of sad to me that Wal Mart is a huge excursion for her and most people just take that kind of trip for granted. I reckon people take a lot about life for granted. People take the blue sky of a clear day or the singing of a robin or the meow of a cat for granted. Life is a splendid and wonderful thing filled with wonders all the time. If we sat back and just took it all in maybe our hearts would burst. You can see this sort of thing in the eyes of children when everyday is filled with a new discovery or a new smell or taste. To regain the innocence of a child would be a wondrous thing. I long for that feeling of exhilaration.

So, tomorrow will be like the day before and the cycle repeats over again like a sadistic Lady Gaga recording [;)]. I'm just happy Marion is doing well.

Batista Hates Cancer

I don't have much to add today which I feel is a good thing. I'll leave you with a video made by ex-WWE superstar Dave Batista. Even if you don't like WWE, the subject is really about how cancer affects us all. It's corny in some parts, but I really like the message.