Project Runway

For some reason, I just don't take advice very well on the latest and greatest tv shows to watch. I work in tv, and am friends with some world class, ah, viewers. But for some reason this is just something I find so individual that I can't be moved to take up new shows.

But every once in a long while, I come across two minutes of something that keeps my attention, and before I know it, I'm sucked in. This happened to me with Project Runway.

I can already hear Stacey laughing. But really, it's true.

This is a reality show about fashion designers -- not models, as I assumed. They're given some odd slant for a task, and they actually sew the clothes. Now here I am impressed in four different ways. First, these people are skilled at something I can't do. Second, they are creative artists in a way that I am not. Third, they are actually a pretty colorful group to watch. And fourth, I find myself actually wanting to wear something daring. Seriously. This outfit on the left was my favorite item from the most recent show, and if they have me contemplating THIS, just imagine what more might be in store...

Best Books of 2007

This is a much tougher post than the movies -- obviously I thought every book was worth investing several hours in the experience. And I read 36 this year! A little low relative to my goal, but I read some real bricks, so I'm pleased just the same.

In the end, there's a difference between being glad you read it, and being excited to share it with your nearest and dearest. So these are the ones I'm most excited to share with you!

It was an excellent year for non-fiction, there are 6 out of 10 on my list and I'm sure I read a greater proportion of fiction through the year. I know non-fiction doesn't always appeal to everyone, but these true stories all captured my imagination in a way that the others didn't. It wasn't even necessarily the topic -- the fun was in the telling.

Finally, these are much harder to rank, I loved them all, so take the list as a very loose guideline. They all deserve first place.

1. Three Cups of Tea - A true story of an American who finds his calling building schools for girls in remote Pakistan. Sounds a little "book clubby," but moved me to tears in almost every chapter. Absolutely amazing.
   
2. A Short History of Nearly Everything - A charming history of science by Bill Bryson, one of my favorite writers. I can't even understand science, and I'm already looking forward to a second read.
   
3. The Rescue Artist - Another non-fiction about the recent theft of the painting The Scream and how it was recovered, in the larger context of the world of art theft, and how it works.
   
4. Pride and Prejudice - Can you believe it's taken me this long to read Jane Austen? I'm not sure if it's my favorite book, but it's my favorite story of all time.
   
5. Bloodsworth - A true account of an innocent man who coincidentally appeared guilty, and was convicted of a brutal murder. He was the first death row inmate exonerated by DNA evidence.
   
6. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Maybe not the best in the series, but so much fun, even the weakest Harry Potter book would put most others to shame.
   
7. Beneath A Marble Sky - Historical fiction centered around Agra, India when the Taj Mahal was built.
   
8. On Writing - A memoir by Stephen King, about what his life was like before he was famous, how he writes, and a last section about surviving a terrible accident. To me, more interesting than his fiction.
   
9. The Tipping Point - A fascinating book about trends, ranging from Paul Revere's famous ride, to crime in New York, to the Blues Clues tv show.
   
10. A Thousand Splendid Suns - The second novel by the author of The Kite Runner, and another poignant story worth reading.
    

Best Movies of 2007

I managed to get to the theater over 30 times this year, and rented a few more 2007 titles. Not bad! Unfortunately I haven't seen many of the Oscar contenders yet, so I'll make a follow up post for the remaining 10 or so on my list.



Here are my favorites of the year (so far):

1. The Painted Veil
2. No Country For Old Men*
3. Dan In Real Life
4. Blood Diamond - I know it technically came out last year, but since it was the 10th movie I saw in 2007, I consider it fair game.
5. Into The Wild
6. Stardust
7. Ratatouille
8. Gone Baby Gone
9. The Simpsons
10. Becoming Jane

* No Country For Old Men. I thought this was an absolutely perfect movie, but it's really violent and suspenseful. If you consider yourself squeamish, watch at your own risk. Of course, I was on the fence, and the theater I went to had a bunch of old ladies in it, so maybe I'm just a wimp!