Best of 2007
As we approach the new year, it seems like it is a good time to reflect. However, this isn't something I'm particularly good at, mainly because I have such a bad memory. Nor am I really eager to do any serious introspection. So I'm going to indulge on some of the good things I remember about the past year, no matter how trivial they may seem. And like a bunch of those year-end cable shows, I'll put in the form of a "Best" list.
Best Trip of 2007: Australia
There, that was easy. From the warm weather to the funny animals, this trip was both relaxing and exciting. Though a trip to Germany with the fellas was rockin' like Dokken, it wasn't quite the same without the Wacky Chinagal (and I'm not just saying that because she reads this blog).
Runner up: Germany/Oktoberfest
Best Meal of 2007: Copper River Salmon, grilled on the Wacky Chinapatio
I find it unusual that the best meal of the year (that I remember) wasn't at restaurant, but something I actually made at home. Upon reflection, no restaurant meal this year really stood out. Oh sure, there were good meals at Napa Valley's Mustard's Grill, several seafood restaurants in Australia, at the familiar House of Prime Rib in SF, as well as some fine meat and potatoes in Germany. But bringing home some copper river salmon and grilling over a cedar plank on my Weber charcoal grill....well, my mouth still waters thinking about its juicy, smoky flavor. Wacky Chinagal made a simple yet delicious side of lime-cilantro rice and green beans which complemented it really well.
Runner-up: Livebait seafood restaurant in Melbourne
Best Beer of 2007: Augustiner Dunkel
Of course the best beer was in Germany! This dark beer ended up as my favorite beer of the trip. I highly recommend going to the Augustiner house in Munich if you get a chance. Word of warning: all American beers taste like watered-down crap after you've been to Germany.
Runner-up: Tie between all other German beers
Best Night Out of 2007: September 23, Munich
Hard to top a night where the cast of characters includes Old Man Farmer, Dragon the Bartender, and Jojo the Dancing Russian. And no, I don't care that no one reading this blog knows what the hell I'm talking about.
Best Patriots Game of 2007: Patriots-Colts (not the AFC-championship one)
I can't blog this long without some sort of Patriots item. Patriots-Colts from two months ago had everything a Pats fan could want: excitement, high quality football, game-changing plays, 4th quarter comeback, and game-ending turnover by Peyton Manning. The only thing it lacked was the Colts going home for the offseason.
Runner-up: Patriots-Ravens
Best Softball Team I was on in 2007: St. Rokers (Diocese of San Jose League)
Despite the fact that two other teams I was on this year made it to the league championship (and one of them won the title), there's something really fun about St. Rokers, other than the totally irreverent name of course. Maybe it's the fact that the third incarnation of our lousy team actually made a huge improvement this year, to the point where we were cautiously celebrating our 2-game winning streak that eventually stretched to 6 games. Or maybe it's because we didn't have a brutal 105-degree game this year. Or maybe it's because everyone on the team genuinely likes each other, plays loose, never points fingers, and is always happy just to be playing softball on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Good times.
Runner-up: the team that won the championship and got me the free T-shirt (no thanks to me)
Best Video Game I played in 2007: Guitar Hero II
Nothing like pretending you know how to play the guitar. I haven't really played Rock Band this year, but I imagine pretending you know how to play the drums could be even more fun.
Runner-up: World of Warcraft (don't make me explain this one)
Best Movie I Saw in 2007: Letters from Iwo Jima
This was a tough decision for two reasons. 1)It's really hard to remember what movies I saw this year, and 2) Clerks 2 was almost as good. But "Letters" was moving, tragically beautiful, and powerfully acted. Better yet, it got me to read up a bit on the Battle of Iwo Jima and get more of an appreciation of how complicated it must be to be a soldier. (And yes, I'm kidding about Clerks 2.)
Runner-up: Blade Runner: The Director's Cut (amazing how this movie has held up over 20 years).
Best TV Series I watched in 2007: Rome (season 1 on DVD)
I cannot stress this enough--this show is AWESOME. Yes, it's an HBO production, so there is plenty of swearing (fuck yeah), plenty of female nudity (yay!), plenty of male nudity (not-so-yay), and plenty of violence (yay again!). But while those elements provide the visceral entertainment, the show itself is wonderfully written, very well acted, and is visually stunning. The characters are well-developed, some of which are likeable, some who aren't, and some who you just don't know whether you like or not. The story is set against the backdrop of historical events, and--oh well, it's just a ridiculously good series. I haven't watched a show this compelling since the early seasons of the Sopranos. Tony Soprano has got nothing on Julius Caesar.
Runner-up: Lost (but it's not even close)
Best Book I read in 2007: Not applicable
No, that's not the title. Sigh, I really need to read more. Consider this my New Year's Resolution: read more books in 2008.
I think that's it. Lots of enjoyable stuff for me this past year. Here's to more fun stuff in 2008. Anyone out there have any "best of's" they want to share?
Best Trip of 2007: Australia
There, that was easy. From the warm weather to the funny animals, this trip was both relaxing and exciting. Though a trip to Germany with the fellas was rockin' like Dokken, it wasn't quite the same without the Wacky Chinagal (and I'm not just saying that because she reads this blog).
Runner up: Germany/Oktoberfest
Best Meal of 2007: Copper River Salmon, grilled on the Wacky Chinapatio
I find it unusual that the best meal of the year (that I remember) wasn't at restaurant, but something I actually made at home. Upon reflection, no restaurant meal this year really stood out. Oh sure, there were good meals at Napa Valley's Mustard's Grill, several seafood restaurants in Australia, at the familiar House of Prime Rib in SF, as well as some fine meat and potatoes in Germany. But bringing home some copper river salmon and grilling over a cedar plank on my Weber charcoal grill....well, my mouth still waters thinking about its juicy, smoky flavor. Wacky Chinagal made a simple yet delicious side of lime-cilantro rice and green beans which complemented it really well.
Runner-up: Livebait seafood restaurant in Melbourne
Best Beer of 2007: Augustiner Dunkel
Of course the best beer was in Germany! This dark beer ended up as my favorite beer of the trip. I highly recommend going to the Augustiner house in Munich if you get a chance. Word of warning: all American beers taste like watered-down crap after you've been to Germany.
Runner-up: Tie between all other German beers
Best Night Out of 2007: September 23, Munich
Hard to top a night where the cast of characters includes Old Man Farmer, Dragon the Bartender, and Jojo the Dancing Russian. And no, I don't care that no one reading this blog knows what the hell I'm talking about.
Best Patriots Game of 2007: Patriots-Colts (not the AFC-championship one)
I can't blog this long without some sort of Patriots item. Patriots-Colts from two months ago had everything a Pats fan could want: excitement, high quality football, game-changing plays, 4th quarter comeback, and game-ending turnover by Peyton Manning. The only thing it lacked was the Colts going home for the offseason.
Runner-up: Patriots-Ravens
Best Softball Team I was on in 2007: St. Rokers (Diocese of San Jose League)
Despite the fact that two other teams I was on this year made it to the league championship (and one of them won the title), there's something really fun about St. Rokers, other than the totally irreverent name of course. Maybe it's the fact that the third incarnation of our lousy team actually made a huge improvement this year, to the point where we were cautiously celebrating our 2-game winning streak that eventually stretched to 6 games. Or maybe it's because we didn't have a brutal 105-degree game this year. Or maybe it's because everyone on the team genuinely likes each other, plays loose, never points fingers, and is always happy just to be playing softball on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Good times.
Runner-up: the team that won the championship and got me the free T-shirt (no thanks to me)
Best Video Game I played in 2007: Guitar Hero II
Nothing like pretending you know how to play the guitar. I haven't really played Rock Band this year, but I imagine pretending you know how to play the drums could be even more fun.
Runner-up: World of Warcraft (don't make me explain this one)
Best Movie I Saw in 2007: Letters from Iwo Jima
This was a tough decision for two reasons. 1)It's really hard to remember what movies I saw this year, and 2) Clerks 2 was almost as good. But "Letters" was moving, tragically beautiful, and powerfully acted. Better yet, it got me to read up a bit on the Battle of Iwo Jima and get more of an appreciation of how complicated it must be to be a soldier. (And yes, I'm kidding about Clerks 2.)
Runner-up: Blade Runner: The Director's Cut (amazing how this movie has held up over 20 years).
Best TV Series I watched in 2007: Rome (season 1 on DVD)
I cannot stress this enough--this show is AWESOME. Yes, it's an HBO production, so there is plenty of swearing (fuck yeah), plenty of female nudity (yay!), plenty of male nudity (not-so-yay), and plenty of violence (yay again!). But while those elements provide the visceral entertainment, the show itself is wonderfully written, very well acted, and is visually stunning. The characters are well-developed, some of which are likeable, some who aren't, and some who you just don't know whether you like or not. The story is set against the backdrop of historical events, and--oh well, it's just a ridiculously good series. I haven't watched a show this compelling since the early seasons of the Sopranos. Tony Soprano has got nothing on Julius Caesar.
Runner-up: Lost (but it's not even close)
Best Book I read in 2007: Not applicable
No, that's not the title. Sigh, I really need to read more. Consider this my New Year's Resolution: read more books in 2008.
I think that's it. Lots of enjoyable stuff for me this past year. Here's to more fun stuff in 2008. Anyone out there have any "best of's" they want to share?
