The Avett Brothers - November Blues

Probably my new favorite band.

Poll

One of J.C.'s friends who really enjoyed "A Man and His Fork" is encouraging her to shoot a movie of me every week. So, J.C. has come up with some options for the next video. If you feel like it, you can comment or email me with your vote.

This is so like the primaries.

Or not really.

Here goes:

Chad chops an onion ("A Man and His Tears")

Chad cross-stiches ("A Man and His Needle")

Chad performs "Tricky" by Run DMC on Singstar ("A Man and His Rhythm")

Chad watches ultimate fighting ("A Man and His Pay-Per-View")

Chad takes a nap ("A Man and his Sleep Apnea")

Best of 2007

I came across Sewanee-pal Derek Nikitas' new blog and Best of 2007 list the other day, and he inspired me to put together my own little list. So, here goes:

Best Film

Hands down: No Country for Old Men. I read the book about a month ago in anticipation of seeing the film and finally got to check it out last week. Everything about it--the acting, the cinematography, the script--was gorgeous. And the Coen brothers' adaptation of McCarthy was so faithful I almost wish I hadn't read the book beforehand. Which, I know, is an odd thing to wish for.

Runners-Up

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
Into the Wild

Actually, those may be the only three movies I saw in the theatre this year.
* * *
Best Book

Three-way tie: The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid, The Interloper by Antoine Wilson & The Sky is a Well and Other Stories by Claudia Smith. Actually, these are the only three books published in 2007 that I read, but they're all fantastic.

Some books sitting around the house that were published in 2007 but won't be read until 2008:

Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson
The Sabotage Cafe by Joshua Furst
Pyres by Derek Nikitas
Ovenman by Jeff Parker
Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
Yes, Yes Cherries by Mary Otis
Refresh, Refresh by Benjamin Percy
The Secret Lives of People in Love by Simon Van Booy
Famous Fathers by Pia Z. Ehrhardt

And there are probably a few more, but that's all that's springing to mind right now.

Yes, I have a lot of reading to do.

But lots of good reading.
* * *
Best Snack

Roasted, unsalted peanuts.

I've eaten a lot of them this year.
* * *
Best Album

In Rainbows--Radiohead

A few others vying for contention:

The Shepherd's Dog--Iron & Wine
Sky Blue Sky--Wilco
The Stage Names--Okkervil River
Boxer--The National
* * *
Best Thing to Cook at Home

Nachos.

J.C. and I have been getting pretty creative on the nachos-front.
* * *
Best Dessert

Tiramisu.

Always Tiramisu.

Okay--Sometimes cheesecake.
* * *
Best Music I was Unaware of Until 2007

Okkervil River
The Avett Brothers
Sigur Ros
* * *
Best Websites

Amy Stein's Photography Blog
Clusterflock
NPR Music
* * *
Best Joke

Two Pickets to Titsburgh, as told by Jamie Iredell at Bread Loaf. Pure comic genius.
* * *
There's more, always more, but I don't want to wrap 2007 up quite yet.

2 X 2

by Scott Garson:

"Loop"

&

"The Happy Family"

by Mary Miller

"A Detached Observer"

&

"My Old Lady"

* * *
Happy New Year.

Now go and read some stories.