2008 | a list of bests

best cup of coffee: Kona French press, one sugar cube, in the morning before work

best backyard in Phoenix to eat really late yummy dinners: Chara's

best album to listen to with Matt: In Rainbows...live...in Toronto

best song to listen to loud in the car: "The Healer/Hip Hop" by Erykah Badu

best commute/new job: my commute/Nlets

best new city visited: Portland (not new, but newly experienced)

best airport: Atlanta has brisket and rocking chairs everywhere

best free thing I had to give back: the laptop I used as a full-time instructor at ASU

best very expensive purchase: a tie between buying my slightly used Matrix and getting my student loans out of forbearance

best pair of shoes: the new Chucks I'm about to buy - I think I'm going gray

best street for walking forever: 5th/Mill during the Tempe Arts Festival

best sitcom marathon: I made Matt watch Weeds; and, he's making me watch It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

best beer: Molson (only if you can see the Canadian border)

best gift: a scrapbook of my childhood artwork from my Mom...tear

best homemade holiday foods: Dad's split pea soup and wedding soup

best neighbor/cat-sitter ever: Robbie!

best decision of the year: moving into a house with the boy

best friend awards:

Chara - gourmet meals while camping, an awesome belated birthday bash, and staying strong at UOP, getting a NAM position, and generally being the strongest woman I know

The Doots - The Polish King sends funny text messages and goes to Bears games in -8 weather

Chris B. - finishing his thesis, opening up, and still managing to ROCK!!

Brian - for pulling off an incredible escape from BG to sunny San Fran for a dream job and a dream girl...and long overdue happiness

best album coming out in 2009: Of Cities by DJ Signify (featuring Aesop Rock & Blockhead) January 20th on Bully Records

best new year's resolutions (I plan on keeping): taking swing dancing lessons, joining a gun club, cooking adventurous dishes, going to the gym, talking less and listening more