Hooooly Toledo, where does the time go?
It's the last day of 2008, peeps! Normally, I'm not a big "Yay, New Year's Eve!" person. I like some champagne, a noisemaker, and then my comfy bed, but since this year has been so ridiculously stellar, I figured I would make a top 10 list of my favorite things. Brace yourselves for some opinions.
THE 10 BEST THINGS IN MY 2008
FAVORITE YOUTUBE VIDEO
It's probably sort of cheesy, but I freaking LOVE this video. I watch it whenever I'm stressed or depressed or angry at the fact that my kitchen has no hot running water (a problem since resolved, but that was not a fun 3 months). Anyway, yes. This video. Good times.
FAVORITE IM CONVERSATION
Easily, hands down, the best. A close second was the one where Johanna went off on Gwyneth Paltrow for reasons that I still don't understand, but I'm saving that one for 2009. It's a doozy.
FAVORITE WEBSITE
Basically, it's a website run by a photographer, who takes pictures of people who look cool. I don't mean like manufactured cool. I mean the people who wear turquoise sweaters with orange scarves just to ride the F train into Manhattan, and they manage to look so awesome that it makes me want to go shopping. The best thing about this website, though, is that it makes me braver in how I dress. At least on the inside.
FAVORITE CONCERT
Sigur Rós at the Greek Theater, Hollywood
I saw a LOT of concerts and some of them were freaking amazing (Trent Reznor, I'm looking in your direction), but the Icelanders win the award this year. I've always been a fan, but as soon as they fired off the confetti cannons during "Gobbledigook" and made the whole audience clap along, I was officially a fanatic.
FAVORITE SONG
I saw the Raconteurs at the Greek the week before Sigur Rós, and while they didn't play this song, it was still amazing. But this song. This song makes me want to track down Jack White and ask him, "How do you DO it?" Jack also gets bonus points because, during a show in Kansas City, he interrupted "Carolina Drama" to pull a fainting girl out of the audience. You see what this song can do to people?
FAVORITE ALBUM
You can imagine what I went through trying to pick just one. I gnashed my teeth, pulled my hair, drank a lot of espresso, and finally came up with "Only By the Night". I've been a fan of the band ever since an ill-fated business trip to Phoenix (please, don't ask), and this album confirmed everything that I loved about their music. Best songs: "Sex on Fire", "Notion", and my second place choice for song of the year, "Use Somebody". Plus, check out some of band member Jared Followill's albums of the year in the NY Times. (This kid should write more music reviews.)
FAVORITE BOOK
Okay, so this wasn't released in 2008, but I read it in 2008, so that's why it counts. I was in a bookstore in Palm Desert, desperate for something addictive to read, so I texted my bookwormy friend Maret for suggestions. 3 seconds later, she texted me this title, thusly winning the prize for best recommendation of the year. The way the plots intertwine are amazing and I wish I could do what Adam Langer does, and Michelle Wasserstrom is one of those characters that you want to be your friend, if you weren't so afraid that she would kick your ass and make you look stupid. I heart both her and this book.
FAVORITE TV SHOW
Why I love "30 Rock" in five words: "Graduate students are the worst."
As for "NMTB", UKers, you know what I'm talking about, but for those of you who haven't seen it, pop over to YouTube immediately. I lost a whole day to watching this show online, and I don't know how to explain it other than it made me laugh so hard that I cried. I realize, of course, that humor doesn't always translate, but if you're up for it, check out two of the best episodes here and here.
FAVORITE MOVIE MOMENT
Tunde Adebimpe, "Unknown Legend" (Neil Young cover)
I didn't expect to cry as much as I did in "Rachel Getting Married", but my two friends and I were all messes by the time it was over. I wouldn't say it's my favorite movie, but it has one of my favorite scenes of the year: the groom (played by Tunde Adebimpe, who's also in the band TV on the Radio) forgoes traditional vows and instead sings Neil Young's "Unknown Legend" to his bride. Please hand me a tissue.
FAVORITE PERSON OF THE YEAR
You. Hands down, you. If you read this website at all, if you read "Audrey, Wait!", if you loaned "Audrey" or borrowed it from a friend, then you are my favorite person. Thank you a million times over to everyone that supported me this year, especially those of you who sent me emails, who showed up to events just to say hello, who asked me how I became a writer or for writing advice. Your notes, comments, Facebook & Twitter hellos, and online and in-person friendships have meant the world to me, and there's no list that can ever show you my gratitude. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I hope you all have a wonderful New Year's Eve and Happy New Year!
Best,
Robin
