Everyone makes lists this time of year, but I make lists all year, because I love them, so I may as well make some more now.
Books I read and loved this year:East of Eden, John Steinbeck
The Prestige, Christopher Priest
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke
Housekeeping, Marilynne Robinson
Housekeeping vs. The Dirt, Nick Hornby
Alias Grace, Margaret Atwood
Truth and Beauty, Ann Patchett
A Separate Peace, John Knowles
Me Talk Pretty One Day, David Sedaris
Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, David Sedaris
Also, the essay "Joyas Voladoras" by Brian Doyle. And The New Yorker. Oh, The New Yorker.
Albums I listened to repeatedly:Plans, Death Cab for Cutie
Everything All the Time, Band of Horses
Several Arrows Later, Matt Pond PA
Faded Seaside Glamour, Delays
Putting the Days to Bed, The Long Winters
Illinois, Sufjan Stevens
The Avalanche, Sufjan Stevens
Year of Meteors, Laura Veirs
The Concretes, The Concretes
Love is Hell, Part I, Ryan Adams
Songs I listened to so much my roommate probably wishes I would forget they exist:"From Debris," Matt Pond PA: "I think people can be perfect/when they do not think about it."
"Long Time Coming," Delays: Ridiculous lyrics, but so catchy.
"Your Heart is an Empty Room," Death Cab for Cutie: "Burn it down/'til the embers smoke on the ground/and start new/when your heart is an empty room."
"No Man's Land" and "Pittsfield," Sufjan Stevens: Simply too beautiful for words.
"I Know I Know I Know" and "Walking with a Ghost," Tegan and Sara: So catchy I think I heard them in my sleep.
"Teardrop," Massive Attack: "Love, love is a verb/love is a doing word."
"Swinging London," Magnetic Fields: "You took me to your library/and kissed me in the stacks."
"Soft Rock Star," Metric: Actually, this one is my roommate's fault.
"Munich," Editors: Just good.
"Over My Head (Cable Car)," The Fray: Every girl's got to have a guilty pleasure.
"The Sporting Life," "On the Bus Mall" and "Engine Driver," The Decemberists: I can't say that I love
Picaresque without reservation, but these three I could listen to forever.
"Orange Sky," Alexi Murdoch: "When I've lost all care for the things I own/That's when I miss you/you who are my home."
"Note to Self," Chris Walla: More, please.
"Seven," The Long Winters: Pick your heartbreak, and this song will evoke it.
"You Can't Always Get What You Want," The Rolling Stones: Need I elaborate?
"Too Late to Turn Back Now," Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose and "(What a) Wonderful World," Sam Cooke: I had a craving for some squishy '70s songs during the summer.
Cities I visited:Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Gallup, New Mexico
Portland, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Corvallis, Oregon
Wow. I went nowhere this year. Next year will be better, and, if all goes according to plan, will involve less sprinting through airports.
Ahem.
Tuesday, December 12
Dear drivers on I-84,
Usually you're so polite, especially in comparison to all the pushy people I share the road with up here. But you seemed to have developed a bad habit, so let me give you a gentle reminder: It isn't necessary for you to cut me off when there is no other vehicle within a half-mile of us, not even some annoying tailgater in your lane who could make that sort of behavior almost excusable. I sincerely doubt you're just concerned about the sanctity of the left lane. Also? It's going to get you rear-ended. Quite possibly by a semi. On purpose.
Dear large, unidentified THING,
Thank you for scrabbling loudly at the side of the house in the middle of the night and scaring the crap out of us. I hope you were eaten by the dog next door.
Dear tow-truck driver on I-5,
Thank you for abruptly pulling into my lane from the side of the road. I would share the things I shouted at you as I was slamming on my brakes, but they aren't very polite, and I'm trying to be the better person here.
Dear Oregon,
I realize that I abandoned you for another state, but you should know that no matter how torrid that affair should get, my heart belongs to you.
Love,
Me
