2008 quick facts.

I can't necessarily say it's back by popular demand - since I don't know how many (but I have an idea of how few) people read this blog.  But I liked recapping the year in this way:

Piano lessons taught: 922

Piano Recitals: 2, plus one company-wide concert

Album of the Year: Asking for Flowers by Kathleen Edwards

     Runner Up: The Stand Ins by Okkervil River

Favorite band I discovered: Glen Hansard/The Frames

     Runner Up: The Shout Out Louds

Best Song:  All the World (I Tell Myself) by Correatown

     Runner Up: The Cheapest Key by Kathleen Edwards

Favorite Movie in a Theater: Wall-E

     Runner Up: Sex in the City (that's right!)

Favorite Movie from Netflix: The Assassination of Jesse James . . . 

     Runner Up: Anne of Green Gables trilogy

Favorite Play: Our Town, performed by David Cromer and the Hypocrites

Best Concert: Kathleen Edwards at the Metro

Best TV Show: Mad Men

Favorite Book: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

     Runner Up: Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld

Favorite Game: Apples to Apples

Cubs Games Attended: 13 (including one post-season)

     Number of those games they won: 11

New City I visited: Milwaukee, WI

Best thing I did there (other than go to a Cubs Game): the free tour of the Miller Brewery!

Holiday Parties

I have been taking quite a break from blogging, it is true.  But let's see if I can redeem myself.  Last weekend was a big one:  my holiday party (carol singing and gift exchanging) Saturday night, followed by my piano recital Sunday afternoon.  My lucky friend Jessica was in town for the weekend, staying with me, and got to attend both.  I'm sure she's looking forward to moving to Chicago, and getting to go home in between events in the future!  She did help out by frosting cookies with me, and she was official taste-tester of cookies, some dips, and the punch, which did need some tweaking.  

The 3rd Annual Holiday party was a great success.  By my count, we had almost 30 people in attendance, and everyone was ready to spread holiday cheer.  Meatballs were consumed, many gifts of alcohol and useless but cute bits of this and that were exchanged, and carols were sung heartily.  By many standards, I have a sizeable home, but we were definitely pushing it when we packed everyone into the living room to exchange gifts.  I'm already looking forward to the party next year, but first I have a Hannumas party next weekend, and of course New Year's!