... and good in everything.: Random things I love, installment #1

#1: Garrison Keillor

Oh how I love this man. Ironically, I didn't learn about him or A Prairie Home Companion until I moved to California. I do remember being required to read one of his short stories in a middle school English textbook and TOTALLY not getting it (I couldn't "see the forest for the trees").

Since becoming a PHC listner, I have seen the show taped live twice and seen him speak live twice. I am absolutly enamored of the News from Lake Wobegon (which you can now download as a weekly podcast). The creativity he displays in telling stories of this totally fictional town blows my mind.

These stories from an imaginary town strike extraordinarily close to home. Coloquialisms, stock characters and iconic establishments still exist in my hometown. It makes me remember when I lived in a much simple time and a MUCH simpler place. Thers is a warm nostalgia that washes over me when I listen to Garrison. I am glad I got to see him in person before he retires (which unfortunately I think will be very soon).

I love that a 50's style radio show is still such a popular thing in the USA today.

#2: This American Life
If you don't know about this amazing PBS show, here is a blurb from their website:

"This American Life is a weekly public radio show broadcast on more than 500 stations to about 1.7 million listeners... The radio show and TV show follow the same format. There’s a theme to each episode, and a variety of stories on that theme. It’s mostly true stories of everyday people, though not always."

Ira Glass hosts the show and it is amazing the stories/people they find. There are so many compelling things I've thought about because of this show. This is like a very smart, healthy version of reality television. They're talking about things that matter.

You can download the weekly shows for free as a podcast. Check out http://www.thisamericanlife.org/ for more info.

#3: Ice Cream
One of my vices. Did you know you can get a kids cone at McDonald's for only 56 cents? Amazing!

#4: Rufus Wainwright
Who else could possibly re-create the 1961 Judy Garland Carnegie Hall concert...? I mean come on.
If you haven't heard his album Release the Stars, run don't walk to get it.

#5: National Parks
How many have you visited? I believe there are 53 now established.

I recently watched one installment of the new Ken Burns documentary about the history of the national parks. Fascinating. I can't believe that I lived in California for five years and didn't learn about the amazing work of John Muir until recently. He was an amazing man. If nothing else, read about his struggle to save the Hetch Hetchy valley.

I have now been to six national parks: Rocky Mountain (CO), Yosemite [twice] (CA), Sequoia & Kings Canyon (CA), Petrified Forest (AZ), & Grand Canyon (AZ). I want to visit many more. Unfortunately, very few are east of the Mississippi. I recently learned that Isle Royale in Lake Superior is a National Park. I hope to be able to visit the Smokey Mountains when I live in D.C.

Here are a few pictures from my recent trips to Yosemite, Sequoia/Kings Canyon and Petrified Forest: