- John Mayer

I cannot believe I forgot to include Knocked Up on my movie list and Mad Men and Friday Night Lights on my TV list.

That's it. For now...

Amy

-- Matt Wertz

I couldn't let 2007 slip away without posting an Awesome in 2007 list. Here are a few of my favorite things in music, TV, film, etc. over the past year. I'm sure I'll leave some stuff out, but I'll add to it later as needed. Please hit me in the comments with your own personal Awesome in 2007 lists, too. I'd love to know what y'all loved this year. (Oh, and I make no excuses for anything on here, we all like what we like and I'm sure you'll laugh at some, but what else is new, right?)

In no particular order...

Television:
1) RIP Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars. Both ended their runs in 2007 and I miss them a ton.
2) How I Met Your Mother. This is hands down the funniest and best show that you aren't watching. If you think the sitcom is dead, you ain't watching HIMYM. Put it at the top of your Netflix queue right now. Thank me later (after you've watched "Slapbet").
3) Chuck. Chuck is such a fun little mix of comedy, drama and spies.
4) Gossip Girl. XOXO, Kristen Bell rocks even in voice over narraration. And this is the new OC. A guilty pleasure at its finest.
5) Desperate Housewives is really good again. Who would have thought?
6) Grey's Anatomy will always be a favorite.
7) Dirty, Sexy, Money. Bad title, great show.
8) Pushing Daises. To think, I almost resisted this charmer. What a shame it would have been to miss out on such a fun confection.
9) Ugly Betty. Amanda singing "Milkshake" backed by an organ at Wilhemenia's wedding? And the Emmy goes to...

Live Music:
1) Keith Urban. Hands down, Keith is probably the best performer I've ever seen.
2) The Bangles. Seeing them was an awesome trip back to the 80s and guess what? They were freaking awesome.
3) Matt Wertz and Dave Barnes. Killed it, they just killed it.
4) Colbie Caillat. She's such a newbie and I loved that she just did her thing with no frills. She sounds exactly like the record and with Pro Tools, that's nearly impossible these days.
5) The Bridges. Coming soon to a CD player near you.

Newly Discovered Music:
1) The Bridges. They opened for the Bangles and I am hooked. Tight harmonies, interesting lyrics and a unique sound have me anxiously awaiting their first record.
2) Matt Wertz. This kid is awesome. I love his voice and he's just fun. Plain and simple.
3) Josh Kelley. So I wasn't on the "Amazing" bandwagon, but wow am I a fan now.
4) Amy Winehouse. There's no denying the power of her voice and her ability to write catchy, bluesy, 1960s era tunes.

Favorite CDs:
1) Introducing Joss Stone, Joss Stone. Love it.
2) My December, Kelly Clarkson. The girl went out on a limb and this particular fan loved every note of it.
3) It Won't Be Soon Before Long, Maroon 5. No need to wait so long between records next time guys.
4) Coco, Colbie Caillat. If you think you know all about Colbie just by "Bubbly" you so don't. The girl is amazing.
5) Everything In Between, Matt Wertz. Ain't nothing wrong with some feel good music.

Movies:
1) The Bourne Ultimatium. Matt Damon = awesome.
2) Enchanted. Patrick Dempsey as a modern day prince? Sign me up. And Amy Adams is awesome. For any of you girls that grew up loving Disney musicals/cartoons, see this one - you'll love it.
3) Becoming Jane. A tearjerker, but a great movie.
4) Transformers. Yes, I'm a chick and I really liked it.

I'm sure I've left out a ton of stuff. And I'll post again as I think about it. Now it is your turn. Comment away!

And may all your Christmases be white
-- Hilaritas 1993-1995


Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Happy New Year, etc.

Let’s get to it.

Sunday afternoon I went shopping to try and find those last minute Christmas gifts. While I was successful on that trip, I’m sorely lacking in creativity points this year. But, as the tale goes – it is totally the thought that counts, right? Like the amount of effort I expended into thinking about these gifts is probably equal to the amount of effort it takes for an ant to move a bread crumb one city block. I’m just saying. Too bad the results are less than stellar.

Anyway, as always, anytime I venture into public I have a story to tell. The trouble is I don’t always get around to posting them. I’m going to try and be better about this sort of thing because I know y’all love a good Dabbs story. One that makes you say, “Only to you Amy Dabbs. Only to you.”

But first, some commentary.

It’s been literally 80 degrees around here and then last weekend the temperature dropped dramatically. This shouldn’t have been news to anyone. It was harped on all week – COLD WEATHER ON ITS WAY! GET OUT THOSE SWEATERS AT LONG LAST! If you didn’t happen to watch the news, flip by your Local on the 8s (which I heart with a passion), read a newspaper or look online, perhaps you would have heard a coworker mention it in passing. And by mention I mean, you would have noticed a coworker freaking out about it and/or getting excited by the chance of passing snowflake. (Didn’t happen. Never will again in this state. Too much hairspray use in the 80s.That’s my theory anyway.) So point being, on Sunday, it was 40 degrees.

So how is it possible that you wind up at Bed, Bath and Beyond to do your wedding registry on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year wearing a sweatshirt and SHORTS? Let me just let all of you know right now that there are few things higher on my list of pet peeves than a sweatshirt and SHORTS. It just doesn’t make any sense. I’m sure this sorority girl (no offense….well, maybe a little offense) just wanted to show off her freshly applied Mystic Tan, but seriously? 40 degrees? Ok, so let’s just give her a break and say that she didn’t know the weather change had happened. You’d think somewhere between her front door and sitting herself down onto a cold car seat she would have realized, hmm… maybe pants are a good option today. Or maybe she would have picked up on that when her fiancée was wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. Maybe that Mystic Tan seeped in too much or something. And by the way, in case you are wondering – this ain’t no Flashdance and you ain’t Jennifer Beals, so don’t even front with the sweatshirt unless you have on PANTS, a skirt or some other item that at least gets within shouting distance of your knees. Seriously.

Second thing – never, ever is there a reason to be in a Wal-Mart on Sunday afternoon wearing a full on silver sequined Tina Turner-ish tank top. Just a thought.

So as I mentioned the weather got very cold and I bought two outside faucet covers, among various other items. As I was checking out the cashier lady says, “Yeah, I had to buy those today, too.” I assumed she was talking about the faucet covers. I replied, “Yeah, it’s so weird, it’s been so hot and now all of the sudden…” She cut me off and said, “Oh no, I meant THOSE” and she pointed at the box of Tampax.

How is that helpful?

Merry Christmas!