compiling

Now that November has rolled around on the old calendar, it’s time for me to start pulling together music for my “Favorites of 2009″ mix.

So far, this year is shaping up nicely with selections from The Bird and The Bee, Tegan and Sara, Metric and Doves.

My criteria for this compilation is pretty simple:

1. The song must have been released sometime in calendar year 2009. And…
2. Only one song per artist, which creates a bit of a challenge for narrowing down great albums.

I was really pleased with the 2008 mix, Promises of Candy and it remains to be seen if 2009 has the same staying power.

mahnga

Grandma Janet with newborn Jason. June 1979.

Two weeks ago today, my Grandmother, Janet Barry, passed away after nearly 10 months of medical complications.

A better author could put words to the thoughts and feelings I have had over the past year. I am not that author. It is an immensely intimidating task. And everything I begin to write falls into cliché. I can say this:

I love you, Grandma. I am proud to have been your grandson.

recounting

Summer is long over. And a lot happened that I neglected to recount on the pages of this weblog. I hereby present:

Summer 2009: the Recount-ening

July
When my main desktop computer crapped out on me in May, I limped along using my laptop. It was a less than optimal solution but provided me with the basic email and internet functionality. In early July I purchased my first computer in probably 5 or 6 years. And the first brand new computer I’d purchased since college. My Mac mini is a delight. Sure, it’s no power house but it is leaps and bounds faster than the machine it was replacing. And it brought me into the modern Mac-era. Yay! I’m currently using it to work on some more video projects. Hopefully more on that soon.