Best of 2008

(I know this is REALLY late. Common, cut me a break, this diva's been really busy.)

Top 10 moments of 2008

1.Graduation: Working on this for a long time. I don’t mean this in an arrogant way, but I never doubt it I would graduate from college. It was still the culmination of a significant stage of my life. Right now I am stuck in limbo, nervously waiting what will come next. However, that day was fantastic.

2.Saturday, May 17, 2008: This was a chaotic day. I had gotten an extension on my last assignment for the last class. After staying up for nearly two consecutive days, I finally submitted it. This marked the end of my college days. At night, I went to Pecs and got SO drunk. I made out with two different guys and almost went home with one.

3.Scholarship galore: For my degree to be finalized, I needed to enter the teaching credential program I am currently doing. It is impossible to work and do the program at the same time. You will just flunk out. I wasn’t getting any more financial aid, so I desperately needed scholarships. I got one. Then another. And they kept coming. I’m glad my hard work in college paid off.

4.Christmas eve: My immediate family, meaning my parents and sisters, live in different places. We had not been together as a family, including grandchildren, EVER. Through a combination of unforeseen circumstances, my family was able to get together for this day.

5.Picture day: The six in my family had been planning on taking this picture for the longest time. Now that we were together, we finally took the picture.

6.Day one, teaching: I didn’t want to go into teaching and quickly realize that I hated it. Yes, it’s been a struggle, but as I’ve learned how to do it, this is the thing for me. I wouldn’t want to do anything else.

7.Radiohead: Next to the Beatles, my favorite band. I always wanted to go see them. In August, I finally did. I couldn’t see a thing as I was sitting too far away. It was still wonderful.

8.Birthday: After years of planning to go out of town, we finally did. It was Fiesta Texas, whose target audience is 10 years younger than the two of us. However, I still had a fantastic time. I particularly enjoyed eating and drinking by the River Walk.

9.Trip to Napa: I have spent the last three Thanksgiving days in San Diego. They have been OK but not the same as if I actually had been with my family. My sister invited to go to her house last Thanksgiving which was a treat.

10.Getting accepted into the credential program: It’s not that it was difficult. Instead, there was a bunch of hoop-jumping involved. I was so relieved when I finally got the acceptance letter.

Best of 2008: TV

1. The Wire: The final season wrapped up many of the overarching thematic plots, i.e. corruption in and out of law enforcement. The fact that Det. McNulty brings down the unlawful politicians through unlawful tactics is very much in line with the tone of the show. The dichotomous roles of Bubbles and Dookie were both heartening and harrowing: while one man escapes the wrath of drug addiction another man succumbed to it, unable to avoid the inevitable. This was very dark but realistic, which was the true hallmark of this great TV show.
2. 30 Rock: The episode titled "Reunion" was among the best in TV in a long time. Absurdist, farcical, subversive, and brilliant. This was a remarkable Shakespearian comedy half-hour filled with great gags, each line of dialogue loaded with witty wordplay and socio/racial observations. Fantastic.
3. Lost: The show dramatically altered its format, establishing flashforwards as an element, but maintaining its superb form. The show also brought in hard-core sci-fi elements, most clearly seen in the phenomenal "The Constant" episode. I applaud the show for taking a huge chance of killing a leading character for the sake of the show.
4. Survivor: Micronesia: The back half of this season produced more dramatic turns than a telenovela. Week after week, there were people getting blind-sided. This was easily THE best season of Survivor.
5. Chuck: The series fully developed last season into the throwback 50s-spy show it was meant to be. Yeah, it has many goofy elements but it is also one of the shows I look forward to the most each week.
6. Desperate Housewives: The show resurrected from what appeared to be a lost cause. The decision to reinvent the show by jumping forward five years was a great move. The story lines are fresh and not the stale ones that people were getting tired of.
7. How I Met Your Mother: Although we've yet to find out who the mother is, the show keeps getting stronger, both in terms of quality and in ratings. The arc with Sarah Chalke was good, organically demonstrating the dissolution of a couple.
8. Breaking Bad: Because of the writers strike, AMC only showed 9 episodes of this series. However, these were nine tight episodes that showed the dramatic turn of events in the life of Walter White, who went from a high school chemistry teacher to a drug dealer trying to make money to stay alive.
9. Big Bang Theory: The show was good from the start of the series. However, the second season improved on two fronts. First, Penny changed from the bemused and ditzy blonde to the sardonic neighbor who is the "street smarts" equal of the geeks. Second, the spastic Sheldon came to fore, spewing his condescending, misanthropic tirades against everyone in his geekdom.
10. The Office: The Amy Ryan story arc casted Michael in a whole different light. His baffonery fed directly into Amy Ryan's character so it was no longer off-putting but charming. Many of the same great elements remained. However, the Jam story line is getting old which is why, in spite of having more heart than 30 Rock, the show is at Number 10.