End of Days (in 2006)
Well, the year is seriously winding down and everyone is coming out with their best of or year end lists, so here at the Salinger Hotline, we thought, why not get in on the act as well.
So, here's some listy things - my top things that I either did or thought about or saw or just made an impression in some random way in 2006, in no particular order of importance (except for the top of the list, of course).
2006 in list form:
My Life with Karen
Well, of course this is top of the list because this is the most important part of every year, the life we make together, the things we share, the care we take of each other, the love we have for each other - all make the top of the list any year, and this year was especially great because it gave me the opportunity to give Karen a year off from work and so there was a specialness to it, and Karen repaid me in kind by really taking care of me this year as well.
The Wire – Movie of the Year. TV Show of the Year, Art of the Year, Best Literature of the Year
There's just nothing better on TV, as far as I am concerned. It's gritty, it's bleak, it's sometimes tough to watch, but oh, the writing, the characters and the story development - not surpassed anywhere. Can't wait for the new season (regrettably the last one).
Other Notable TV (Deadwood, Sopranos, Weeds, Big Love, 24, Heroes)
Some other good shows - not as great as The Wire, but definitely worth watching. 24 and Heroes are here because they are not perfect TV, and the writing isn't nearly as good as the others, but they're fun to watch anyway.
Sankai Juku
One of the most interesting dance companies ever, always intriguing and thought compelling and mesmerizing to watch perform. And if you love all white, you'll love Sankai Juku (see the blog review from November).
Gracia and Brian in New York in March
One of the highlights of the year, showing New York to my daughter and son-in-law, neither of whom had ever been there before. The other great part of the year was having the opportunity to help Gracia quit her job and focus on getting through school.
Watching Kelsey and Hailey grow into teenagers
From little girls that I could get on the floor with and throw around to serious(ly) grown up, seemingly overnight, but I love them so much and love watching them blossom and grow.
Scotland
Almost two weeks with Karen in the greenest place (I've been), staying in fabulous old mansion style hotels, visiting castles and lochs and highlands, great meals, driving on the other side of the road on narrow Scottish roads - a real vacation for a change.
The Farm
The sweetness of Gaston and Nadine's 40th wedding anniversary party, seeing family, hanging with the cows, my favorite country place in France, the memory of the land that my grandfather was born on - and then 3 great days with my sister in Paris.
Modern Medicine – Christophe, Laura, Karen,Joanne, Mom
Those who know me know that I'm just not a fan of going to doctors, because they don't call it "practicing" medicine for nothing - but there were some moments this year that made me very thankful for the progress that has been made in medicine. Karen Salinger coming through her tumor on the pituitary flawlessly, Laura coming through a couple surgeries, my Mother having a pacemaker installed to solve a heart problem, Joanne doing away with a tumor in her ear that affected her hearing without having to go through radiation and my friend Christophe coming through non-lymphoma Hodgkins and chemo for many months with a clean bill of health. And then there was my friend from work, George Welling, who nearly died from a massive heart attack, but just ran another marathon and is in training for yet another. That man is a modern medical miracle.
Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris and others for helping me to clarify my thoughts on evolution and religion
Praise the universe for evolutionary biology, rational thought and the survival of the species.
The Demise of Donald Rumsfeld and general discrediting of the neoconservative/Republican agenda
Enough said here in many previous blogs.
Dinner at the Library of Congress
One of the perks of work, getting to go to cool places and meet cool people and do cool things. The Library of Congress in DC is just gorgeous at night with candles on the tables, low lighting and dinner with interesting people.
Valencia – AC sailing
Watching America's Cup boats sail in the waters off Valencia - another perk of working for Oracle and having a great boss, (no, not Larry - my boss Judy).
Dixie Chicks
For their courage to stand up to censorship, for their music, for the live concert Karen and I got to go to (another Oracle perk), to their movie, "Shut Up and Sing", these gals were up there on my list of heroes for the year (and other years as well).
Sitting courtside at Warriors game
Yet another Oracle perk (helps to have the naming rights to the Arena), the up close action was way cool and I got to share this perk with my brother Dave, who never could beat me in basketball when we were in high school, but I give him credit for trying almost every day. He gets me back in other ways these days.
Movies (ones I liked, in no particular order):
Wondrous Oblivion
Little Children
Little Miss Sunshine
Volver
Casino Royale
Army of Shadows
Transamerica
An Inconvenient Truth
Shut Up and Sing
The Queen
Children of Men
Books (that I can remember I read and liked - there's probably more, but my feeble brain can't seem to remember - guess I need to start writing things down):
No Country for Old Men – Cormac McCarthy
A Walk in the Woods – Bill Bryson
The Book of Salt – Monique Truong
The Brooklyn Follies – Paul Auster
The God Delusion - Richard Dawkins
The Shape of a Pocket - John Berger
Peace, Love and Hope - on to new and maybe better things in 2007!
So, here's some listy things - my top things that I either did or thought about or saw or just made an impression in some random way in 2006, in no particular order of importance (except for the top of the list, of course).
2006 in list form:
My Life with Karen
Well, of course this is top of the list because this is the most important part of every year, the life we make together, the things we share, the care we take of each other, the love we have for each other - all make the top of the list any year, and this year was especially great because it gave me the opportunity to give Karen a year off from work and so there was a specialness to it, and Karen repaid me in kind by really taking care of me this year as well.
The Wire – Movie of the Year. TV Show of the Year, Art of the Year, Best Literature of the Year
There's just nothing better on TV, as far as I am concerned. It's gritty, it's bleak, it's sometimes tough to watch, but oh, the writing, the characters and the story development - not surpassed anywhere. Can't wait for the new season (regrettably the last one).
Other Notable TV (Deadwood, Sopranos, Weeds, Big Love, 24, Heroes)
Some other good shows - not as great as The Wire, but definitely worth watching. 24 and Heroes are here because they are not perfect TV, and the writing isn't nearly as good as the others, but they're fun to watch anyway.
Sankai Juku
One of the most interesting dance companies ever, always intriguing and thought compelling and mesmerizing to watch perform. And if you love all white, you'll love Sankai Juku (see the blog review from November).
Gracia and Brian in New York in March
One of the highlights of the year, showing New York to my daughter and son-in-law, neither of whom had ever been there before. The other great part of the year was having the opportunity to help Gracia quit her job and focus on getting through school.
Watching Kelsey and Hailey grow into teenagers
From little girls that I could get on the floor with and throw around to serious(ly) grown up, seemingly overnight, but I love them so much and love watching them blossom and grow.
Scotland
Almost two weeks with Karen in the greenest place (I've been), staying in fabulous old mansion style hotels, visiting castles and lochs and highlands, great meals, driving on the other side of the road on narrow Scottish roads - a real vacation for a change.
The Farm
The sweetness of Gaston and Nadine's 40th wedding anniversary party, seeing family, hanging with the cows, my favorite country place in France, the memory of the land that my grandfather was born on - and then 3 great days with my sister in Paris.
Modern Medicine – Christophe, Laura, Karen,Joanne, Mom
Those who know me know that I'm just not a fan of going to doctors, because they don't call it "practicing" medicine for nothing - but there were some moments this year that made me very thankful for the progress that has been made in medicine. Karen Salinger coming through her tumor on the pituitary flawlessly, Laura coming through a couple surgeries, my Mother having a pacemaker installed to solve a heart problem, Joanne doing away with a tumor in her ear that affected her hearing without having to go through radiation and my friend Christophe coming through non-lymphoma Hodgkins and chemo for many months with a clean bill of health. And then there was my friend from work, George Welling, who nearly died from a massive heart attack, but just ran another marathon and is in training for yet another. That man is a modern medical miracle.
Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris and others for helping me to clarify my thoughts on evolution and religion
Praise the universe for evolutionary biology, rational thought and the survival of the species.
The Demise of Donald Rumsfeld and general discrediting of the neoconservative/Republican agenda
Enough said here in many previous blogs.
Dinner at the Library of Congress
One of the perks of work, getting to go to cool places and meet cool people and do cool things. The Library of Congress in DC is just gorgeous at night with candles on the tables, low lighting and dinner with interesting people.
Valencia – AC sailing
Watching America's Cup boats sail in the waters off Valencia - another perk of working for Oracle and having a great boss, (no, not Larry - my boss Judy).
Dixie Chicks
For their courage to stand up to censorship, for their music, for the live concert Karen and I got to go to (another Oracle perk), to their movie, "Shut Up and Sing", these gals were up there on my list of heroes for the year (and other years as well).
Sitting courtside at Warriors game
Yet another Oracle perk (helps to have the naming rights to the Arena), the up close action was way cool and I got to share this perk with my brother Dave, who never could beat me in basketball when we were in high school, but I give him credit for trying almost every day. He gets me back in other ways these days.
Movies (ones I liked, in no particular order):
Wondrous Oblivion
Little Children
Little Miss Sunshine
Volver
Casino Royale
Army of Shadows
Transamerica
An Inconvenient Truth
Shut Up and Sing
The Queen
Children of Men
Books (that I can remember I read and liked - there's probably more, but my feeble brain can't seem to remember - guess I need to start writing things down):
No Country for Old Men – Cormac McCarthy
A Walk in the Woods – Bill Bryson
The Book of Salt – Monique Truong
The Brooklyn Follies – Paul Auster
The God Delusion - Richard Dawkins
The Shape of a Pocket - John Berger
Peace, Love and Hope - on to new and maybe better things in 2007!
posted by Paul Salinger at 2:26 PM
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