To round off the top fives for now, here are my picks for top five TV shows. These aren't necessarily new shows, but they're shows I've particularly enjoyed this year.
1. Supernatural. This remains my favorite show on TV, and this year it's better than ever. Dean's time in hell, as well as the introduction of angels to the show's mythology, have added layers that work better than I ever thought they would.
2. Bones. After a major misstep at the end of last season and a really horrific return at the beginning of this one, I was afraid I was going to have to take this former favorite off my must-watch list. But the show has recovered nicely, and while I still hold a grudge, it's returned to its eminently watchable self.
3. Leverage. This show just started a couple of weeks ago, but it's rapidly becoming a favorite. Familiar faces Christian Kane (Angel) and Aldis Hodge (Supernatural, Friday Night Lights), make it that much more entertaining.
4. Burn Notice. The presence of Bruce Campbell and Sharon Gless make this already fun show even more awesome.
5. House. Last season was questionable. The season before that? A bit annoying. This season seems to be back on course.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Top Five Movies of 2008
My movie viewing this year was largely comprised of sequels and nostalgia. My top five movies of the year (counting only movies I managed to catch in the theater):
1. Wall-E. One of the most impressively produced, written, directed, you-name-it movies I’ve ever seen.
2. The Dark Knight. A fantastic movie, fantastic sequel, and a mind-bogglingly good performance from Heath Ledger. He will be missed.
3. Iron Man. One of the best non-Batman superhero movies ever.
4. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Honestly? Not that great a movie in a lot of ways. But I loved it. I’m a huge Indiana Jones fan, and while I had issues with some portions of the story, I loved the way they wrapped up Indy and Marian’s storylines.
5. The X-Files: I Want to Believe. Again, not the best movie in a lot of ways, but boy, have I missed Mulder and Scully. And the Mulder-and-Scullyness of this movie gave me a warm fuzzy.
1. Wall-E. One of the most impressively produced, written, directed, you-name-it movies I’ve ever seen.
2. The Dark Knight. A fantastic movie, fantastic sequel, and a mind-bogglingly good performance from Heath Ledger. He will be missed.
3. Iron Man. One of the best non-Batman superhero movies ever.
4. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Honestly? Not that great a movie in a lot of ways. But I loved it. I’m a huge Indiana Jones fan, and while I had issues with some portions of the story, I loved the way they wrapped up Indy and Marian’s storylines.
5. The X-Files: I Want to Believe. Again, not the best movie in a lot of ways, but boy, have I missed Mulder and Scully. And the Mulder-and-Scullyness of this movie gave me a warm fuzzy.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Five Favorite CDs of 2008
Peer pressure compels me to make a list of favorite things from the rapidly closing year. I'm not going to do a top ten, though--that's too much work. Instead I'll just do a few top fives.
So without further ado--my favorite CDs of 2008.
1. Pretty. Odd.--Panic at the Disco. Joy in a jewel case, this is the perfect disc to slide into the player when you're in a bad mood. You'll be feeling better before it hits the third track. Favorite tracks: Northern Downpour, Behind the Sea.
2. The Black Parade--My Chemical Romance. Okay, not technically a 2008 disc, but I discovered it this year. With its over-the-top, theatrical anthems to death, dying, bad relationships, and other items of Deep Despair, it still makes me happy. Go figure. Favorite tracks: Welcome to the Black Parade, I Don't Love You, Cancer.
3. Folie a Deux--Fall Out Boy. Barely a 2008 CD, since it just came out this week, but it still counts. Helped along with guest spots by Elvis Costello, Debbie Harry, Brendon Urie and others, Pete Wentz and crew have never sounded better than they do here, happily skewering the pop culture of which they're such an integral part. Favorite tracks: What a Catch, Donnie, I Don't Care, (Coffee's for Closers).
4. Fast Times at Barrington High--The Academy Is... This should be the breakout album for this band, and it just might be, having been listed in the top 50 albums of the year by Rolling Stone. A breezy tribute to high school, Fast Times should have been a summer album but wasn't quite, so give it a listen and let it warm up your winter. Favorite tracks: About a Girl, After the Last Midtown Show.
5. Howl--Empires. A superb album from a label-less group, available for free download at weareempires.com. What are you waiting for? Go get it! Favorite tracks: Believe, I Want Blood.
So without further ado--my favorite CDs of 2008.
1. Pretty. Odd.--Panic at the Disco. Joy in a jewel case, this is the perfect disc to slide into the player when you're in a bad mood. You'll be feeling better before it hits the third track. Favorite tracks: Northern Downpour, Behind the Sea.
2. The Black Parade--My Chemical Romance. Okay, not technically a 2008 disc, but I discovered it this year. With its over-the-top, theatrical anthems to death, dying, bad relationships, and other items of Deep Despair, it still makes me happy. Go figure. Favorite tracks: Welcome to the Black Parade, I Don't Love You, Cancer.
3. Folie a Deux--Fall Out Boy. Barely a 2008 CD, since it just came out this week, but it still counts. Helped along with guest spots by Elvis Costello, Debbie Harry, Brendon Urie and others, Pete Wentz and crew have never sounded better than they do here, happily skewering the pop culture of which they're such an integral part. Favorite tracks: What a Catch, Donnie, I Don't Care, (Coffee's for Closers).
4. Fast Times at Barrington High--The Academy Is... This should be the breakout album for this band, and it just might be, having been listed in the top 50 albums of the year by Rolling Stone. A breezy tribute to high school, Fast Times should have been a summer album but wasn't quite, so give it a listen and let it warm up your winter. Favorite tracks: About a Girl, After the Last Midtown Show.
5. Howl--Empires. A superb album from a label-less group, available for free download at weareempires.com. What are you waiting for? Go get it! Favorite tracks: Believe, I Want Blood.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Thoughts on Christmas Eve Dinner
Are you in need of some fresh, new ideas for your Christmas Eve dinner table? Maybe the traditional dinner you've served for years is starting to feel boring or old, or maybe you don't have a real tradition in place at all. Either way, you want something new. But where to start?
One place to look for ideas for Christmas Eve dinner is into the past. Maybe your parents or grandparents had a particular tradition that you'd like to resurrect with your own family. Or maybe you'd like to go even farther back and try some traditions popular with your ancestors.
Many cultures have traditional Christmas Eve fare that you could prepare as a reminder of your origins. Take a look around for traditional cookbooks or websites with traditional recipes to come up with a dinner that reflects the culture of a few generations back. It's a way to explore your own background, and could be an educational experience for both you and your children.
In Ireland, Christmas Eve is considered a fast day, so the dinner choice of the day is fish. A typical evening meal would consist of creamed fish and creamed potatoes. Creamed haddock or salmon in a cream sauce are popular choices. With the fasting over by midnight, you can top off your meal with rum punch and plum cake.
The German Christmas Eve meal is also simple, often consisting of vegetable or pea soup. Presents are traditionally opened on Christmas Eve, and a much larger meal of sausages, game, potatoes, and sometimes roast goose is featured on Christmas Day. Some folks prefer the larger meal on Christmas Eve, so take your pick!
In Southern Italy, Christmas Eve is celebrated with a meal consisting of seven courses of fish. No one is quite sure what the seven fish stand for, but it's definitely a significant number for the holiday. Guesses include the seven sins, the seven sacraments, or the seven days it took Mary and Joseph to travel to Bethlehem. Dishes can include calamari, shrimp, whitefish, tuna fish, and even lobster. Accompanies by antipasto and a variety of pasta dishes, as well as sumptuous desserts, the Italian Christmas Eve feast might leave you full until New Year's.
If none of your ancestral traditions appeals, you could always fall back on the traditional American meal of turkey or ham with all the trimmings. A roast goose might add some British flair, or you could always skip the dinner altogether and go straight to the French custom of thirteen desserts. Whatever you decide makes the ideal Christmas Eve meal, enjoy it with your family, and include a generous helping of the holiday spirit.
One place to look for ideas for Christmas Eve dinner is into the past. Maybe your parents or grandparents had a particular tradition that you'd like to resurrect with your own family. Or maybe you'd like to go even farther back and try some traditions popular with your ancestors.
Many cultures have traditional Christmas Eve fare that you could prepare as a reminder of your origins. Take a look around for traditional cookbooks or websites with traditional recipes to come up with a dinner that reflects the culture of a few generations back. It's a way to explore your own background, and could be an educational experience for both you and your children.
In Ireland, Christmas Eve is considered a fast day, so the dinner choice of the day is fish. A typical evening meal would consist of creamed fish and creamed potatoes. Creamed haddock or salmon in a cream sauce are popular choices. With the fasting over by midnight, you can top off your meal with rum punch and plum cake.
The German Christmas Eve meal is also simple, often consisting of vegetable or pea soup. Presents are traditionally opened on Christmas Eve, and a much larger meal of sausages, game, potatoes, and sometimes roast goose is featured on Christmas Day. Some folks prefer the larger meal on Christmas Eve, so take your pick!
In Southern Italy, Christmas Eve is celebrated with a meal consisting of seven courses of fish. No one is quite sure what the seven fish stand for, but it's definitely a significant number for the holiday. Guesses include the seven sins, the seven sacraments, or the seven days it took Mary and Joseph to travel to Bethlehem. Dishes can include calamari, shrimp, whitefish, tuna fish, and even lobster. Accompanies by antipasto and a variety of pasta dishes, as well as sumptuous desserts, the Italian Christmas Eve feast might leave you full until New Year's.
If none of your ancestral traditions appeals, you could always fall back on the traditional American meal of turkey or ham with all the trimmings. A roast goose might add some British flair, or you could always skip the dinner altogether and go straight to the French custom of thirteen desserts. Whatever you decide makes the ideal Christmas Eve meal, enjoy it with your family, and include a generous helping of the holiday spirit.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Holidays Leaving You Sleep-Deprived?
The holidays can be a tremendously hectic time, with family get-togethers, parties, and of course holiday shopping taking even more time out of our increasingly busy schedules. This atmosphere can contribute to stress for many of us, and stress can lead to difficulty sleeping.
It's a testament to how many people have sleeping issues that there are literally hundreds of sleep aids on the market today. But these medications can have adverse side effects, including an unpleasant "hung over" feeling the next morning that makes it hard to feel awake and alert when you need to be.
Where else can you turn when sleep proves elusive? Here are a few suggestions that might help you find your way to a peaceful night's sleep, as well as a less stressful holiday season.
1. Homeopathic remedies. Unlike traditional over the counter medications, homeopathic sleep aids are gentle and have no side effects. Many mainstream grocery stores now carry single and combination homeopathic remedies that can be used to treat both stress and insomnia.
2. Herbal remedies. The old stand-by chamomile tea is a stand-by for a reason--it works. Chamomile is available in just about any grocery store, alone or in combination with other herbs to add interest and flavor. If you're allergic to any member of the daisy family, though, you might be allergic to chamomile, so use with caution.
3. Meditation and breathing techniques. If you've ever taken yoga classes or investigated any form of meditation, the breathing techniques used to introduce basic meditation can be useful in falling asleep. Sometimes, even when you can't fall completely asleep, entering a light meditation state can leave you feeling nearly as rested as you would if you had taken a nap. Just try counting your breaths, one to ten, then starting over at one again. It's a simple but powerful way to quiet a stressed mind.
4. Music. Music has always been a good way to help children sleep, and it works for grownups, too. Try some mellow music that you particularly like, or look for music specifically composed to help de-stress your system or to help you sleep. Music composed for meditation is a good choice, as is ambient music intended as background for massage therapists or Reiki practitioners. Some experimentation might be in order, but if you find just that right combination of music to help you sleep, it's worth the time invested.
Hopefully one or more of these ideas will help you get that rest you need to help you enjoy the holiday season without added stress and fatigue. Enjoy the holidays, and sleep well!
It's a testament to how many people have sleeping issues that there are literally hundreds of sleep aids on the market today. But these medications can have adverse side effects, including an unpleasant "hung over" feeling the next morning that makes it hard to feel awake and alert when you need to be.
Where else can you turn when sleep proves elusive? Here are a few suggestions that might help you find your way to a peaceful night's sleep, as well as a less stressful holiday season.
1. Homeopathic remedies. Unlike traditional over the counter medications, homeopathic sleep aids are gentle and have no side effects. Many mainstream grocery stores now carry single and combination homeopathic remedies that can be used to treat both stress and insomnia.
2. Herbal remedies. The old stand-by chamomile tea is a stand-by for a reason--it works. Chamomile is available in just about any grocery store, alone or in combination with other herbs to add interest and flavor. If you're allergic to any member of the daisy family, though, you might be allergic to chamomile, so use with caution.
3. Meditation and breathing techniques. If you've ever taken yoga classes or investigated any form of meditation, the breathing techniques used to introduce basic meditation can be useful in falling asleep. Sometimes, even when you can't fall completely asleep, entering a light meditation state can leave you feeling nearly as rested as you would if you had taken a nap. Just try counting your breaths, one to ten, then starting over at one again. It's a simple but powerful way to quiet a stressed mind.
4. Music. Music has always been a good way to help children sleep, and it works for grownups, too. Try some mellow music that you particularly like, or look for music specifically composed to help de-stress your system or to help you sleep. Music composed for meditation is a good choice, as is ambient music intended as background for massage therapists or Reiki practitioners. Some experimentation might be in order, but if you find just that right combination of music to help you sleep, it's worth the time invested.
Hopefully one or more of these ideas will help you get that rest you need to help you enjoy the holiday season without added stress and fatigue. Enjoy the holidays, and sleep well!
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