2016: It Happened

I didn't want to end the year without a little review of it! And this post was too long for Facebook. So it's here, with links and playlists included.

Culturally, 2016 saw many of the lowest lows I've ever seen. I may go back and edit this post later to talk more about those, but I'm not going to right now. 

Instead, here are some of the great things that happened to me this year:

I saw Johnnyswim, The Lumineers, and Mumford & Sons in concert. But most of all, I saw Beyoncé, whose performance caused me to transcend the physical realm to become a being of pure light.

I met Mindy Kaling and Nick Offerman.

I finally saw my favorite comedian Mike Birbiglia do stand-up.

I went to a West Wing cast panel featuring Dule Hill, Josh Malina, Bradley Whitford, Janel Moloney, Richard Schiff, Tommy Schlamme, and Aaron Sorkin.

I saw off-Broadway performances of Newsies and Cinderella, and a UT production of Little Women that rescued one of the worst days of my life.

I ran into John Noble, who played Denethor in Lord of the Rings, at the Apple Store in the mall.

I saw all the Oscar Best Picture nominees in 24 hours for the second year in a row, and I saw an advance screening of Loving introduced by its director.

I saw Wonder Woman on the big screen (in a terrible movie, but she was great, and more is coming in 2017).

I visited Nashville, St. Louis, New Orleans, Selma, and Savannah.

I got to do good work with good people all summer at Texas Appleseed.

I played Fantasy Football, Fantasy Basketball, and (for some reason (aka David Holmes)), real Intermural Basketball.

Alyssa Boutelle moved to Austin, which was probably the best thing and it inspired many of other things on this list, but I was trying to be nonchalant by putting her this far down. Did it work?

And while I'm counting my blessings: I got to vote for a woman for president, and she wasn’t a write-in. I got to watch a woman speak at a political convention as the party nominee. I got to think for several glorious months that we might get a female president. Maybe someday we will.

I'm optimistic about 2017. Cautiously so, based on much of what will be coming down the pipeline that 2016 hath wrought, but I am optimistic about the impact that we will get to make on the world next year. Let's go.

And just for fun, some rapid-fire pop culture favorites! Many of these are NOT recommended for all ages (profanity, mature subjects, general HBO-ness). If you're curious, please ask! I'd be happy to talk to you about any of these things that I enjoyed immensely this year.

Five Favorite Movies I Saw:

1. La La Land

2. Captain America: Civil War

3. The Nice Guys

4. Moonlight

5. Zootopia (2020 Emily: I have rethought this one)

Five Favorite TV Shows I Watched:

1. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

2. Jane the Virgin

3. Bob’s Burgers

4. Insecure

5. Stranger Things

Ten Favorite Podcasts I Listened To:

1. My Brother, My Brother, and Me

2. Dead Pilots Society

3. Pop Culture Happy Hour

4. Reply All

5. NPR Politics Podcast

6. Judge John Hodgman

7. Keepin’ It 1600

8. Code Switch

9. Another Round

10. Homecoming

Ten Favorite Articles/Pieces I Read:

1. An Open Letter to Evangelical Republicans

2. A letter to America from Leslie Knope, regarding Donald Trump

3. What It’s Like to Teach 1984 in 2016

4. Mike and Dave Need a Gender Studies Course

5. David Fahrenthold tells the behind-the-scenes story of his year covering Trump

6. A time traveler’s apology for 2016

7. My Lost Mother’s Last Receipt

8. Superman and the Damage Done 

9. My President Was Black 

10. Trumpology: A Master Class

Fifteen(ish) Favorite Songs I Listened To On Repeat:

1. Sandcastles- Beyoncé, Lemonade (and also Formation)

2. Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)- K'naan, Snow Tha Product, Riz MC & Residente, The Hamilton Mixtape (and also Congratulations- Dessa)

3. Seriously- Leslie Odom Jr. (written by Sara Bareilles in the voice of President Obama), This American Life

4. I’m Here- Cynthia Erivo, The Color Purple

5. City of Stars- Ryan Gosling, La La Land Soundtrack (and also A Lovely Night- Ryan Gosling & Emma Stone)

6. Let It Matter- Johnnyswim, Georgica Pond

7. Is She With You- Hans Zimmer, Batman v. Superman Soundtrack (it’s Wonder Woman’s theme and it’s perfection)

8. Water Under the Bridge- Adele, 25

9. Everything Changes- Sara Bareilles, Songs from Waitress (and also She Used to Be Mine & You Matter to Me)

10. Who Should Follow Who- Run Boy Run, I Would Fly

11. You’re Welcome- Dwayne The Rock Johnson, Moana Soundtrack

12. Divine Design- The Mulligan Brothers, Divine Design

13. Hair- Little Mix, Hair

14. Put Yourself First- Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Cast

15. Call Off Your Ghost- Dessa, Parts of Speech