December 15-- Advent at ADAFT 2014!

It's corny, I know, but I actually really like the stop-motion animation film about Rudolph.  Come on, who doesn't love the elf who wants to be a dentist?  But the best part  is the end, when the toothless Yeti is hanging up Christmas decorations and Burl Ives sings "Holly Jolly Christmas."

I leave you to it.

The Summer List

The other day B and I were listening to the Youth Group song "Forever Young," and it got me thinking.  See, there's this line about "so many songs we forgot to play..."--well, I don't want to forget to play them.  That's a metaphor, of course.  The point is, there are certain things that are just quintessential summer, and if we forgot to do some of them, we'd regret it.  And so will you, if you don't do these things.  Here's the list.  (And the song, should you suddenly be seized by the desire to hear it).

Forever Young

1.  Go to the beach.

2.  Eat ice cream.  (In Aarhus, we recommend Misto.  In Berkeley, go to Naia).
3.  Wear an enormous sun hat.  Feel ultra-glamorous.

4.  Take an early morning walk.

  

 5.  Eat strawberries.
 6.  Swim in an outdoor pool.
 7.  Play Kubb.

8.  Grill something.
 9.  Watch a stupid summer movie. (We heartily recommend "Wet Hot American Summer" and "Eurotrip").
10.  Eat corn on the cob.
11.  Visit a rose garden.

12.  Go to an outdoor concert, preferably in the park.
13.  Sleep with your head at the foot end of the bed and the window open.

Tomorrow it's August, so don't delay!  Start working on your summer list right away.  You won't want to fall behind, because another list is coming in the fall.

Happy summer everyone!

The Lifeys 2012!

Happy New Year, darling readers! 

Yes, it's that time again.  Time for the Lifeys!
(It's a guilty pleasure, we know, but we won't tell anyone how much you've been looking forward to this).

Best New Song:  A Comet Appears, by The Shins

Best Meal Out: Thai Peacock in Portland, OR, August 2012

Best Meal In: our new tradition of Taco Tuesdays, especially if the zucchini salsa is involved

Best New Baby:  tiny C!
Honorable Mentions: the UHS Alums October Babies, ie: baby boy L and baby girl A, as well as the     November nearly-nephew, baby boy S.

Best New Job:  B's new position as an assistant professor

Best New Album:  Casino Twilight Dogs, by Youth Group (B's choice)
There's No Leaving Now, by The Tallest Man on Earth (E's choice)

Best Startlingly Amusing Movie:  Horrible Bosses
(we saw some good stuff this year too, but nothing worth winning Best Actually Good Movie--did we miss something?)

Best New Cookbook:  Tie:  Vegan Sandwiches Save the Day!  and Vegan Eats World

Best "High School Reunion:"  B meeting his former German exchange students in Berlin this summer!

Best Penny Arcade Comics: Betwixt and Anthrophila

Most Uplifting Video We Found on the Internet:  David Attenborough and the BBC giving us a Wonderful World


All told, looks like it's been another great year!