Some of My Favorite Things of 2010

2010 sucked. Not just for me, others unfortunately suffered 2010's suckiness as well, but I'm speaking for myself when I say that last year seemed to be one long train wreck starting in January. If you feel the same, thanks, misery enjoys company, as they say. Despite all the hard times, I still managed to have myself a pretty darn good time. I'm a, “the glass is half full” kinda guy. I thought I'd share some of my favorite things from the past year, if for no other reason than to remind myself that it wasn't all bad. And it wasn't, so here goes:

Favorite Movie of 2010

I believe there were 651 movies released in the U.S. in 2010, and I managed to see less than one percent. Still, I saw some pretty awesome movies this past year and Inception was my favorite. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World was a close second, but Inception edged it out. I'm not sure Christopher Nolan has made a bad movie, and if he has I haven't seen it. Yeah, it had some eye popping special effects, but the intricate and engaging plot is what sold me on it. Though a blockbuster release, it wasn't saddled with the usual blockbuster cheese that many suffer from, meaning it wasn't cheesy like Avatar. It's a smart movie that sucks you in with a great story and great characters. When the final credits roll you've had yourself one heck of a movie experience. And Leonardo DiCaprio didn't look like a kid playing a grown up this time.

Favorite Album of 2010

Do we still call them albums? Should I call it a CD?

As I went through the albums I purchased in 2010 (yes, I'm one of the few people that still buys their music and doesn't pirate it) I was aghast to find out that none of them were actually released in 2010! I have several from 2009 that I assumed were released in 2010 because that's when I purchased them. Silly me. With that, let me tell you my favorite album released in 2009, but purchased in 2010; Gov't Mule's Hanging By a Thread. Warren C. Haynes and company never fail to produce pure listening bliss. Hanging By a Thread simply jams from one tune to the next and is all I need to enter the blessed state of a musical coma. Haynes virtuosic guitar playing can be missed in a market saturated by shredders that play as many notes per measure as they humanly can, but no one seems to reveal the soul of the guitar like Haynes, and Hanging By a Thread proves the point. If you're a music fan, do yourself a favor and check The Mule out.

Favorite Book of 2010

I thought I was going to be in the same boat with books as I was with albums. I wound up reading older books this year, like To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, which, for some reason, I didn't read in junior high school like the rest of the U.S. It's a great book. Also, a friend recommended Stranger In a Strange Land, by Robert A. Heinlein, also a great book. Still, I did manage to read a few books actually released in 2010, my favorite being, Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, by Seth Grahame-Smith. It's a little jaunt through some revisionist history where we see the events that shaped the young Abe into the man that would become one of the greatest presidents of the United States. And if you thought The Civil War was fought over the evil of slavery, well I suggest you give this book a read and find out the real reason! Plus, Lincoln is an ax wielding maniac with a blood lust for vampires. What's not to like?

Favorite Concert of 2010

I had the pleasure of attending some great concerts this past year. A missed a few, too, like Gov't Mule three different times, but alas. This one was a little tough for me because I had two shows that rival to be the best concert I've ever attended, Porcupine Tree and Rush. I saw Porcupine Tree in the smallish and intimate House of Blues, where you feel like your on stage with the band. The mix and guitar tones are the best I've ever heard live, and with a two hour, plus set, I left the venue punch drunk on some progressive rock. I saw Rush in a huge amphitheater where the best view of the band was on the massive screens flanking the stage. But the show had everything, from great videos to accompany the songs to freakin' explosions! Their lighting rig loomed over the stage like a gargantuan robot, flexing with the music. They played everything off of the Moving Pictures album, plus about a million other songs. By the time the show was over, I felt like I'd been pummeled in a three hour pillow fight. With that, Rush gets my nod for favorite concert. Really, the pyrotechnics put them over the top, but hey, I'm a man who appreciates a good explosion. 

Favorite Video Game of 2010

I played some great games this past year.  Roaming the virtual wild, wild west of Red Dead Redemption was pretty neat, and there's something very satisfying about dismembering the infected with a chainsaw in Left 4 Dead 2, but my favorite goes to Super Mario Galaxy 2.  I think it's nothing less than platforming perfection!  Running around as Mario, then later as his brother Luigi, and jumping on Bowser's minions has never been so fun.  Well, Super Mario 64 for the N64 may still be my all time favorite, but Galaxy 2 is right up there in greatness.  The game goes from being super easy to so hard you wind up throwing your controller across the room!  I still have these two stars I just don't seem to have the reflexes to get, but that's one of the reasons the game is great; it keeps you coming back for more punishment...uh, I mean fun.  Nintendo's Wii console has wound up releasing a lot of crappy games since it hit the market, but when they do it right, it's the best, and Super Mario Galaxy 2 is just that, the best!

Favorite Culinary Experience of 2010

I had two finalist here, both of which I wrote about earlier in the year; Meg O'Malley's Irish Breakfast Burger and Munchie's 420 Café's Fat Daddy. The Irish Breakfast Burger is a half pound of charbroiled beef adorned with rashers (bacon), bangers (sausage), grilled tomatoes, caramelized onions, Dubliner cheese, and topped off with a fried egg. My taste buds were hopping with each delicious morsel. The Fat Daddy is this over stuffed monstrosity boasting a cheese burger, a philly cheese steak, chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, fried potato wedges and a complement of condiments. It was ridiculous, and very tasty. After much consideration, The Fat Daddy edged out the Irish Breakfast Burger simply because of the amount of food present. Amazingly, every element in the sandwich was distinguishable and complemented the whole, which I didn't think was possible. Plus, I had the worst stomach ache after The Fat Daddy, as I also finished off a side order of spuds and half of Mrs. Muller's cheese steak sandwich. I'm a glutton.

Alright, so I found myself sucking the hind tit most of last year, but 2010 had it's bright moments as well. I'm hoping 2011 will be better, and should be, all thing considered. Thankfully, I had a few pleasant excursions and came away with some good memories in 2010.

So, here's to new adventures and hopes of a wonderful new year! And if you don't have one, it's your fault. Just sayin'.