Yes! One of my favorite relief pitchers is on the team in 08. Hoping he is healthy and makes the big show, no one was more entertaining to watch intimidate hitters with his dueling diamond earrings and a nasty fast ball.

Nice write up on my friends at Cafe Flora in the Seattle PI. I have known the restaurant through my POS work in the old days and as supporter over the years with their efforts to help the community and many gifts of their excellent cookbook.

Self indulgent for sure, but worth noting the best bits for 2008 planning...

Music

• Wilco - Sky Blue Sky - A pure pop album from Tweedy and company. I had the pleasure of seeing the band at Marymoor in the summer on a perfect night and I come back to this album (on vinyl in my office) and at home over and over again. We got to see Nels and Glenn early in the year at the Triple Door, so it was a complete trip for me a a fan of Wilco.
• Feist - The Reminder - I hate the iPod over-saturation, but this album is really well crafted and you can't resist it.
• Bobby Rush - Raw - Best blues acoustic music of the year. Bobby is not known and appreciated for his musicianship in comparison as a band leader and this album puts all that to rest, he has such a great delivery and nuance.
• Led Zeppelin - Mothership - Okay it is redundant re-packaging, but a really nice set list and cool packaging for a 3 disc set.
• Arcade Fire - Neon Bible - Me and everyone else, listen to it with headphones and relax.
• Iron & Wine - The Shepherds Dog - An aching sound with great stories. I really liked this album and it matches Arcade Fire and other bands doing lo-fi with multi-layering of diverse instruments. Highly recommended.
• Brandi Carlile - The Story - I had the chance to catch her 3 times during the year and it making big strides to play a larger stage. The Story was a very solid sophomore album.
• Jake Shimabukuro - Hula Girls - I blogged his show early in the year and what are you waiting for? He is a phenom on the Uke and it is a solid bet you and your date will love this guy.

Movies

• Inland Empire - David Lynch - Completely inaccessible to most folks and it took a good three viewing's before I was able to get the interspersed stories and realities. But Lynch is generous and he shares the story for whatever we project on it and no one else makes movies this way.
• Knocked Up - Judd Apatow - A great night at the Big Picture, this movie is funny and dark.
• Ratatouille - Disney - Food, Paris, Chefs and dating the Wait-staff. I used to live that way!
• Grindhouse - Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez - This dual movie setup sent me to Amazon to pickup Vanishing Point, Dirty Larry and Crazy Mary and a few other '70's flicks. It was an awesome movie experience at the Cinerama.
• Black Snake Moan - The Blues and living on the edge. Great music and SLJ playing himself really made it worth it.

Shows

• Roger Waters - Key Arena - He did Dark Side note to note and was smiling the whole time. 5th Row seats.
• Eric Clapton - Key Arena - Wow and once again he proves why he is such a force in music.
• Memphis Blues Awards - I blogged the best of the shows for the Blues Awards. Again Bobby Rush was amazing.
• Portland Waterfront Blues Festival - Hotter than hell and lots of killer blues bands. We had a great boat cruise with friends and musicians.
• Wilco - Marymoor Park - I blogged this one and my buddy gave me the board recording from the show for Christmas.
• Shawn Mullins - Triple Door - See this guy next time he comes to town.
• Bumbershoot - Seattle Center - Another great bag of music and the exclusive stuff was the best. Private shows with Steve Earle, The Gourds and Gogol Bordello.