My Favorite Things - 2007

Having two children under the age of 3 keeps you out of the movie theater, but I did get to see "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly." Absolutely beautiful with a refresihng sense of humor, all things considered for Jean-Dominique Bauby: "Despite his condition, he authored the book The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by blinking when the correct letter was reached by a person slowly reciting the alphabet over and over again. Bauby had to compose and edit the book entirely in his head, and convey it one letter at a time. He had his interlocutor read from a special alphabet which consisted of the letters ordered in accordance with their frequency in the French language. This made dictation more efficient. The book was published in France in March, 1997. Bauby died just two days later of heart failure. He is buried in a family grave at the Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris, France."

I liked the short film, "Hotel Chevailer," but have yet to see "The Darjeeling Limited." I'm hesitant out of fear it will be too 'precious.'

"Superbad" jogged my memory to high-school, in many ways, but my favorite moment had to be the scene where Michael Cera sings "These Eyes" to a roomful of guys doing blow.

"The Bourne Ultimatum" is the best action film I've seen in years. I didn't see "Casino Royale" until 2007 and think it is also an exceptional action film. Bond finally returned to proper form with Daniel Craig replacing Remington Steele as 007.

"Once" is a great film / musical. Simple and sweet. "Falling Slowly" should be nominated for and win an Oscar for Best Original Song, (if the WGA will put an end to their ridiculous strike).

My most played song was "I Saw the Light," by Todd Rundgren, followed by Air's "Space Maker."

Radiohead's new album; "Spring Hall Convert," by Deerhunter (fantastic live show); a renewed interest in Wings, Led Zeppelin and Queens of the Stone Age, also contributed. Safe to say the theme of 2007 with regard to music is the 70's.

I read the book "Ten Points" by Bill Strickland in late summer early fall, and apart from the several other books I read over the year, this is the only one that affected me personally.

Buying our first home; Watching Bax and Sadie grow; Sarah's effortless and natural maternal instincts; Barritt's Ginger Beer; The Mercian "Paul Smith" track bike; my indestructible brown Blundstone's; winning three awards at Hatch (1 Silver Bowl, 2 Bronze); my Belstaff oil coat; my Pake commuter bike; cycling; progress not perfection in many areas of my life...

I'm sure I missed many things, but this is what I am recollecting at this moment.

2007 was a very special year for me. Many firsts, accomplishments, victories and successes.