The Best List of 2017

Happy Romjul--the period between Christmas and New Year's Eve where you don't know whether or not you should use your new gift cards to buy self-help books on The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck , getting a gym membership, or eating your weight in ham and sugar cookies. In Norway, Romjul is spent being indoors, cozy, and properly adhering to all things hygge. How are you spending Romjul? I know some of you are treating yourself to a trip to the theater to see The Last Jedi and others are awaiting the new season of Black Mirror. I'm personally looking forward to setting aside time to watch Mark Duplass' Creep 2 which is now available on Netflix.

Anyway, because this is the last Tuesday of the year, I wanted instead to share with you my "Best List of 2017". Throughout the year, I keep a modest list of best things. It changes as the year progresses and I don't keep up with it as much as I'd like. There's always next year. By no means does this list represent 2017. It simply means that during this year, the listed things were the best in my opinion. And what does my opinion matter? I know it doesn't. But that's the fun in opinions. You may find something intriguing. I'd love to know yours. Well, here goes nothing (in alphabetical order, too!).

• Adventure: Hiking up Camel Hump Mountain in Vermont

• Ankle Surgeon: Dr. Gary Gruen

• Bar: Frankenmuth Brewery (Frankenmuth, MI)

• Beer: Leinenkugel

• Blog: Futility Closet

• Book: Animals Strike Curious Poses by Elena Passarello

• Breakfast Place (Dine-in): Mamie's

• Cafe Chai Tea: Greenbean Coffee House

• Chinese Food Restaurant: Main Moon (Hollidaysburg)

• Cloud Moment: Seeing mammatus clouds for the first time when near Camel Hump peak in Vermont

• Craving: Buffalo Chicken

• Discovered Band: Milky Chance

• Documentary: Round Planet (series)

• Donuts: Tie between Mamie's and Peace, Love, Little Donuts

• TV Drama Series: Dark

• Essayist: Elena Passarello

• Experience: Watching the total solar eclipse in Tennessee

• Flower: Indian Pipe

• High Point: Black Mountain in Kentucky

• Hiking Boots: New Balance WW1400v1

• Homemade Meal: Chicken Pot Pie

• Horror Movie: The Babadook

• Live Performance: Nick Offerman's "Full Bush"

• Magazine: New Philosopher

• Moment: All the milestones I shared with Brian during the recovery of my broken ankles

• Moment with a Friend: Road-tripping, cave-dwelling, and camping with Maddie

• Movie (in theater): Tie between "It" and "Get Out"

• Nature Poet: Mary Oliver

• Pizza Place: All Star (Altoona)

• Podcast: My Favorite Murder

• Poet: Molly Brown

• Road Trip: They were all great but The Triad was great. I visited three high points (Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky), visited an artist colony in Kentucky, and camped and kayaked in Virginia. It was also the only one I did solo hahahaha.

• Sitcom: The Office

• Socks: Blue Q Brand

• Song: Hutterite Mile by Sixteen Horsepower

• State Visited: Vermont (Burlington)

• Sushi: Aki's sweet potato roll

• Thai Food: Jaidee Thai Restaurant (Altoona)

• Time of Light: The Golden Hour of Autumn

• Weather Moment: Photographing lightning and then promptly driving home in pouring rain and hail while on a Blue Moon buzz. Pretty awesome.

#bestlist