Bad Apologies

Alright, not really. But it has been an incredible three months. MOSI moved in June through August, and even got a job working in the same building as I. Turns out, moving in was just the right thing we needed. I love him more than I did yesterday, and I know that the strength of our love can stand the test of cohabitation. There will always be hurdles, but I am convinced that will not be one of them.

I am still coming down off a stellar weekend in Pittsburgh, reconnecting with him on his turf.

This American Life is my sustenance for drives to and from Pittsburgh, and six episodes were the bookends for my trip. As promised to now TWO plucky little DC transplants, here are 10 episodes that played (or repeated) this year that I have loved (and so should you):

1. The Giant Pool of Money. Reasons to love this episode go beyond the clips of Sigur Ros that weave transitions together--I really didn't get the sub-prime housing mortgage crisis at all, and now I do. Don't ask me to repeat it after four drinks (cause I will).
2. A Little Bit of Knowledge. The opening is light and plenty humorous. Act 2, by the blunt and real Dan Savage (Savage Love), makes me long for gay marriage as much as MOSI's Republican parents did after they listened to this one on the caravan to Hilton Head for the family vacation I joined in July (a blog post I would never be able to get through).
3. Leaving the Fold. Listen to Act 1 and you will never think of Jerry Springer the same way again. I would vote him for President. Seriously.
4. The Audacity of Government. Probably the reason I do what I do now, and think that DOJ and DHS can be so much better than they are. Their ideology might actually be making us less safe, and I don't know how you could be proud of this Administration after the Prologue and Act 1, or any Administration after Act 2.
   
5. Fear of Sleep. Especially for Act 1, when a stand-up comedian's take on sleep walking.
6. What I Learned from Television. Everything! This one is live, and pretty funny, and Mates of States performs during the interludes!
7. Nice Work If You Can Get It. Astronauts doing paperwork in the Prologue, and the PC Guy comes to life in Act 1!
   
8. Life After Death. A much different tone, but it puts a voice to the effects on someone's life who is inadvertently the cause of another person's death.
   
9. Human Resources. Despite my abhorrence for these people, this isn't much about how HR mostly screws up your benefits. What is fascinating is Act 1, and the discovery of where hundreds of NYC teachers go, who aren't allowed to actually teach, and Act 2, which will shines a light on how many of our neighbors in DC might be viewing us--as part of "The Plan."
10. My Brilliant Plan. Which includes Act 1, and renting a house in Baghdad.