Friday, January 14, 2011

2010 in Review

Here are some memories from 2010

January:

Waking up New Years Day in my future in laws house in Lubbock, TX

1st gig as a Bartender at a bowling alley in CO Springs

February:

V-Day with a cutie

March:

No distinct memories

April:

Shadowing my buddy, Kevin the PT, as he showed me the amazing art of dry point needling

May:

Celebrating a year with Carrie with wine, pizza, and ice cream

Spontaneous road trip to pick up my future Mother in Law in Texas when her flight to CO for Carrie's bachelorette party was cancelled due to bad weather.

Finishing my first year back to school with a 3.8 GPA

June:

Beginning the festivities at the end of June

July:

07/03/2010 making the biggest commitment I could ever make. best decision i've made so far...

The unforgettable party that followed

An epic evening with those closest to me in a luxury box at Coors Field.

10 days of bliss in Oahu.

Moving into our first home together in Denver

August:

no specific memories....just learning to be a husband :)

September:

a phone call from Greg and Jenn. Welcome Carter Fertig!

October:

Ran my 2nd Marathon. This time I wasn't alone at the finish line!

November:

Sufjan in concert...Unforgettable!

Great trip to Sharon, PA. Greg cooks a mean bird.

December:

Surprise to me. Thank you my Love, and all who attended. I loved it.

Invitation to interview for UCD's PT school. Hard work beginning to pay off.

Fun Christmas in CO Springs. Sleeping on a love sack with Carrie for the first time.


Amazing year. Here's to 2011

Sunday, June 20, 2010

some more reasons I asked

Additional things I dig about her...

She can run 5 miles barely breaking a sweat.

There's nothing I'm ashamed to share with her.

She's the prettiest girl in any room she walks in to.

Her farts rarely smell.

She picks my clothes out, relieving me of the stress of shopping for myself.

If I have a bothersome booger, I can pick it in front of her without embarrassment.

She makes me feel kinda funny, like when I used to climb the rope in gym class.

She's gonna be a fantastic mom.


more to follow...

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

90's Albums

Here are my favorite albums of the 90's...


1. Radiohead - OK Computer (1997)



Stunning...breathtaking...weird...simply brilliant. I had heard Radiohead songs before, but this is the album that sold me on them all those years ago. Wow.

2. Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)



Lyrically brilliant, powerful rapper, and vocally jaw dropping. She is something else. Thank the powers that she is a nut job. If she was emotionally stable, we'd most likely be deprived of her moving music.

3. Radiohead - The Bends (1995)



Not as influential as ok computer, but this is one of the best pure rock and roll records of all time. So much energy. I never tire listening to it.

4. Jeff Buckley - Grace (1994)



Death came to this man all too early. Vocally, he's as good as any rock star I've ever heard, Freddie Mercury notwithstanding. Lyrically, he's very unique. And he sure can play guitar. Amazing album.

5. Pearl Jam - Ten (1991)



Nevermind gets all the grunge love, but I happen to enjoy this one more. This album shows Nirvana firing on all cylinders.

6. Elliott Smith - Either/Or (1997)



Sometimes I need to feel sad, and this is my go to album for that. Again I ask, if Elliott was happy, would we be deprived of something great?

7. Nirvana - Nevermind (1991)



Even with all the hype and mystique surrounding this album, it still manages to be awesome.

8. Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun (1999)



Holy cow, this album knocked me on my ass, in a completely calming and euphoric way. I hadn't heard beauty in my car's speakers like this before.

9. The Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995)



Not as focused as Siamese Dream, but an altogether more rewarding experience. Corgan throws everything including the kitchen sink into this album. God help me I love it.

10. Mos Def - Black on Both Sides (1999)



Spectacular hip hop album. Lyrically profound and the beats make me tingle in my giblets.

11. Bjork - Homogenic (1997)



The best album by one of the best vocalists recording right now.

12. Wilco - Being There (1996)



One of the best American bands of the last 15 years. This album of southern rock/country may be their crowning achievement.

13. Pearl Jam - Vitalogy (1994)



I love this album almost as much as ten.

14. Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994)



This is a truly unique alternative band. This album is a new favorite.

15. Red House Painters - Ocean Beach (1995)



Great album by a great band that nobody listens to. Pity.

16. Elliott Smith - XO (1998)



Some kind of pop wonder this album is. He is so good.

17. Rage Against the Machine - Self Titled (1992)



This album punches you in the gut. Brings back high school memories.

18. Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream - (1993)



Fantastic arena rock album. Love it.

19. The Roots - Things Fall Apart (1999)



Brilliant hip hop album. Check it out.

20. U2 - Achtung Baby (1991)



Doesn't reach the heights of their 80's stuff, but a great album nonetheless.

Some honorable mentions. (Grew up on 90's music so I have a few more favs)











Sunday, June 13, 2010

some reasons i asked...

It recently occurred to me that I am getting married in less than three weeks and I haven't written at all about that. So every few days for the next few weeks, I'm gonna jot down a few things that I love about the future Mrs. Karlik.



She smiles with her whole body.

She likes the taste of beer.

She gives stellar hugs.

When I met her, she knew very little about the Colorado Rockies. A few weeks ago I was at a game with my buddies and she texted me to ask who was winning. When I told her the Rockies were, she actually got excited. She didn't know it at the time but that meant a lot to me.

I can fart in front of her without consequence, usually.

Killer rear end.

I can cry in front of her without shame.


Those are just a few....more to come later.
She's proud of me even though I'm a 27 year old full time student/part time bartender who lives in his parent's basement.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Coffee and her...

Two of my favorite things, combined...In 3 weeks, I'll have both these things every morning.



Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Current Reading

I'll get back to my decades this week, but I have to make a slight detour. I'm only halfway through this book, but its already one of the best novels I've ever read. If you're looking for something to read, this is it...


A Prayer For Owen Meany

Thursday, May 13, 2010

80's Film

Here are my favorite movies from the 80's.


1. Amadeus - Dir. Milos Forman (1984)



This film is FANTASTIC! Two of the best performances in any movie are right here in this masterpiece. There is an overload of music, humor, drama, suspense, color, but somehow it works beautifully. A must see for a film lover.


2. Platoon - Dir. Oliver Stone (1986)



There is a feeling of authenticity in this film. Maybe its because Oliver Stone did a tour of duty in Vietnam. Such an amazing film.

3. The Empire Strikes Back - Dir. Irvin Kershner (1980)



The best of all the Star Wars films. So much emotion. Such an interesting story. I love, love, love this film.

4. Raging Bull - Dir. Martin Scorsese (1980)



Robert De Niro gives the best performance of his career in one of the best of all character studies.

5. Raiders of the Lost Ark - Dir. Steven Spielberg (1981)



Nobody does adventure like Spielberg.

6. My Left Foot - Dir. Jim Sheridan (1989)



Daniel Day-Lewis gives one of the best performances of the decade in a truly inspirational film. The greatest aspect of the film is in its portrayal of Christy Brown who, while amazing, was not in any way heroic. Check this one out.

7. Driving Miss Daisy - Dir. Bruce Beresford (1989)



I was not looking forward to this film. Thought it would be amazingly boring. Imagine my surprise when it moved me to tears. What a beautiful film about friendship.

8. Ordinary People - Dir. Robert Redford (1980)



Robert Redford's directorial debut, and it was a doozy. Such a painful film about the deep seeded pain in seemingly normal families.

9. Field of Dreams - Dir. Phil Alden Robinson (1989)



A childhood favorite. I love the enigma this film is. It never explains the mystery behind anything, which is one of its strengths.

10. When Harry Met Sally - Dir. Rob Reiner (1989)



Some of the best dialogue in any movie ever. This film actually gives me insight into my current relationship.

11. Sophie's Choice - Dir. Alan J. Pakula (1982)



This film is an emotional roundhouse to the gut. Meryl Streep is a goddess.

12. Back to the Future - Dir. Robert Zemeckis (1985)



Michael J. Fox is a gifted comedic actor. And this is one of the best of all fantasy films.

13. The Princess Bride - Dir. Rob Reiner (1987)



How did this film work? Its so outrageous. Yet it works as a comedy, romance, fantasy, action, and sometimes political commentary. Amazing.

14. Blade Runner - Dir. Ridley Scott (1982)



A visually stunning film. One of my favorite scifi films.

15. Do the Right Thing - Dir. Spike Lee (1989)



Spike Lee's best. Great film about race relations.

16. Say Anything - Dir. Cameron Crowe (1989)



Such a sweet love story. so tender and romantic.

17. Die Hard - Dir. John McTiernan (1988)



Sheer adrenaline! Bruce Willis at his best.

18. A Christmas Story - Dir. Bob Clark (1983)



I don't know if any other film has done nostalgia this well.

19. Bull Durham - Dir. Ron Shelton (1988)



This film has an extremely high baseball IQ. So funny, yet touching.

20. The Karate Kid - Dir. John G. Avildsen (1984)



One of the best friendships of all film. I love this film.