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Sunday, August 31, 2008

To discuss a month in review: August

What happened to August? No, seriously? Did you steal it? Give it back. I'll trade you my March and November for it.
To cap off the last month of summer, here's a look back at my favorite and least favorite experiences of August, with lots of links to distract you from reading this entire post...
  • Favorite movie: Both "Harold and Kumar" movies. Some blockbusters, like "The Dark Knight," were very good, but it's not like I'll want to see them again and again. Harold and Kumar aren't usually the type I like- most stoner movies rely too much on making jokes about stoners saying stuff about being high, but never actually go any deeper. But I laughed out loud a ton during these two movies, and most comedies lately can't do that. Plus, Neil Patrick Harris is simply the cat's meow (man, I finally got to use that phrase... what a relief). Runner-up: "Lars and the Real Girl."
  • Least favorite movie: From Justin to Kelly. It's on right now, and it's as bad as everyone said it is. I didn't even know it's a musical. It's not even as good as Grease 2. They try to force Justin Guarini to like women, and you can tell that just doesn't work. And Kelly Clarkson has that awful chunky highlight thing going on. It made me vomit in my mouth a little bit. Runner-up: "Tropic Thunder."
  • Favorite song: "I'll Be Seeing You," Billie Holliday. Sure, sure- I heard it in "The Notebook." And we all know how that night ended up. But that's a good song, and you know it. Billie's voice makes you want to slow dance on a pier-- all I need is a pier. And a girl. And Billie not to be dead.... Runner-up "Electric Feel," MGMT.
  • Least favorite song: "Burnin' Up," Jonas Brothers. I get it- they're cute, curly-haired dudes. Whatever. They can't sing. They can't play their instruments. This is not a good song. They can't finish off lyrical phrases properly, and the whole song has, what, three chords? Maybe I'm getting old.... Runner-up "Shake It," Metro Station.
  • Favorite album: Adele, "19". If Jill Scott had a sore throat and then became the surrogate mother of Alicia Keys' baby with Joss Stone as the stepmother, that would be what Adele sounds like. Like a biracial lesbian test tube baby. Well, actually, I'm sure she likes boys, but the point is that this British pop-soul singer makes simple songs into experiences. Showstoppers include "Chasing Pavements," "Make You Feel My Love" and "Hometown Glory," which might end up being one of my top 10 favorite songs of the year, even though it sounds very similar to Sia's "Breathe Me." ... Runner-up "Once" movie soundtrack. (no least favorite album)
  • Best TV Show: "The Wire," Season 1. Well, normally this will be a new show, but it's all re-runs right now. So I finally started watching The Wire, and it has to be one of the best-acted shows I've ever seen, and I don't say that lightly. I can't believe they only made five seasons of this.
  • Worst TV show: Parental Control (MTV). I get the premise- parents want to get their son/daughter to ditch their significant other, so they set them up on two dates. But the show gets too creepy. There are too many times when the dads say again and again how hot the girls are that they chose for their son. They ask them about sex, ask them their favorite body parts, etc. But the girls are in high school. And the moms never say anything about it. Don't you think that's why your son is choosing the wrong women, mom? Dad's trying to bang the 16-year-olds. It's like "American Beauty" without the rose petals. MTV, I liked you more when you showed "Singled Out."
  • Best moment: Getting to spend a weekend with college friends. It's too bad no one has come up with a way to keep all the friendship benefits of college without the whole going to class thing, once you graduate. When you're working, you never get the same close contact with people. You can't go down the hall at 1 a.m. and knock on their door.
  • Worst moment: Fighting back the remorseful, bitter tears of an afternoon without America's Favorite Snack Cake.
  • Best decision: Uh, starting this blog. (Stop snickering.)
  • Worst decision: Trusting that my dinner wouldn't explode on me. Would you believe I stepped on a sliver of glass yesterday? I'll never get all the glass swept up.
  • Fake TV girlfriends I've claimed this month: Alicia Sacramone, Andrea from Danity Kane, and quite possibly Sarah Palin, Republican V.P. candidate.

    Quick blog thought: I've been fiddling with a bunch of crap on here lately. One thing I'm trying to decide is if I should keep doing the "Read more" formatting for posts so you can quickly skim down the main page and find what you want, or if I should post the entire body of each entry in its entirety so you don't have to click as much. What do you prefer? Anything else you like/don't like? (and don't say the writing quality, jag-off)

    Also- get excited. Like, pee your pants excited, except don't pee your pants because that will gross out others and leave a stain... There are some cool new blog features coming up in the next month-- a Q&A with a special guest blogger (details coming) is one example-- plus, with TV returning, there should be more TV play by plays. Commence peeing.

8 comments:

Amy xxoo said...

This is a great post Andy. I've mentioned before that I'm a sucker for a good list, but I always find my concentration lapses when I try and come up with something like this myself.

Oh,and I also love the " Once " soundtrack. Did you see the movie and love the music, or just here the music without having seen the movie ? " Falling Slowly " will probably make my top 10 songs of the year....

Tiffy said...

Loved this month in review post. I love it when people recap what was the best and worst of there month..

If you're getting old because you don't like the Jonas Brothers then I'm right there along with you. They have no talent.

Maybe, I'm getting lazy or something. But, I think I prefer your posts without the read more jump...

Herding Cats said...

I've been keeping up on your blog, and I'm jealous of your sense of humor and writing. Thanks for the fun reading!

Anonymous said...

Cue September! (The Best Month. EVER.)

ANG* said...

this has nothing to do with anything. but did you see the sweet award i gave you on friday?

http://angilio.blogspot.com/2008/08/brillante-blogo.html

btw, totally for you creating your own. all the cool kids (me) are doing it.

Andy - Instafather said...

Amy- I first heard of Once at the Emmys or Grammys or one of those awards shows. I check out the movie and I loved every. single. song. "When Your Mind's Made Up" is my favorite.
MissTiff- Thanks for the read more advice. I'll keep messing with it. And I think we're all just getting old. I hate young kids.
Herding dead kittens: Don't get jealous. Get even.
Haute- I am a mammoth fan of September, because fall just crushes all other seasons. You can bet that I'll be writing about my season crush on fall (just don't tell Spring. She's a jealous mofo).
Ang- As soon as I think of a good idea for my own award, I will do it.

Anonymous said...

Your posts remind me of Bill Simmons. In a good way. Oh, and minus about 8,000 words per entry. And sports. Except for the fantasy football one.

Anonymous said...

call me lazy, but I love being able to read from start to finish.

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