Last night after I finished my dinner of a leftover Denny’s club sandwich, I still felt a little hungry, so I walked over to 7-11. I got some candy bars and chips and various other snacky-type food, but when I went up to pay for them I opened my wallet and realized my credit card was missing. I quickly paid for the snacks with my debit card (which, luckily, was still there) and booked it out of there. I tore apart the apartment searching for it, looking through all my recent purchases, digging through the plastic bags, my receipts, everything. Nowhere to be found. I knew I’d used it the previous evening to buy Xmas pressies at Fred Meyer, and I couldn’t remember the clerk handing it back to me, so I called their customer service desk and they told me it wasn’t there. I didn’t believe them (I couldn’t think of anywhere else it could possibly be, because I’m diligent about keeping my things in the same place all the time) so I drove over there and asked in person, and there it was. Thanks a lot, wankers. Did you even check for it before you told me it wasn’t there? I understand you’re busy and everything, but for crap’s sake! Additionally, when I went up to the service desk and asked for my card, the guy only asked me for my name, and just handed it back to me. He didn’t even ask to see ID to prove it actually was my card, which means that anyone could have gone up there and taken it if they’d known it was there. That doesn’t make me feel too safe. :( I suppose the panicked-slash-terrified look on my face as I approached the counter was enough to tell the guy that I was for real (He *did* look extremely concerned and sympathetic before I even said a word) and I’m not convinced anyone could fake the relief I exhibited after he handed it back to me…but still…

In any case, it’s all okay now. :) I’m so glad getting it back was that painless and that I didn’t have to deal with the hassle of cancelling it and getting a new one during the holiday season. Phew!

Jules and I ordered a new HDTV which should be arriving on Saturday. I’m pretty excited about that since I haven’t had a TV for years and never had a big one before. It will be fun playing Guitar Hero on that thing. :3 That should keep me occupied enough over Christmas when I’ll be by myself. I’m finding that I don’t really mind that fact so much at the moment since the thing I’m most looking forward to is Jules arriving in January. That’s when the real Christmas will be.

I neglected to mention that a few weeks back I saw Death Cab for Cutie live. I wasn’t too pleased with the show so I didn’t feel it warranted its own post. :( They played Key Arena, which is a basketball stadium. Their music is indie rock of the intimate variety. You do the math.

I think the thing that disappointed me more than experiencing them adapting their music to fit an arena was the fact that the crowd was jam-packed with teenagers (mostly high schoolers) who had no clue about concert etiquette. I watched a buddy of mine get into a shouting match with some guy who was blocking his fiancee’s view. The whole thing just didn’t *work.* :( I don’t like all-ages shows, and I think my tolerance for teenagers is even lower than it was when I was in high school.

I just got a letter from the USCIS stating our case has been approved! Step one complete, and only after *two* months! This means Jules could be here for good within a few months! *freaks out* :O

Peter Boyle dead at 71

Very sad indeed. I can’t begin to express how much laughter this man brought me over the years. His roles as the monster in Young Frankenstein and Clyde Bruckman on The X-Files are by and large two of the funniest I have ever seen. In lieu of making the obvious joke about Gene Wilder having his work cut out for him again, I will just say this: Thank you for the laughs, Peter.

1. Band of Horses - Everything All the Time
2. Midlake - The Trials of Van Occupanther
3. Halou - Wholeness and Separation
4. Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit
5. Elbow - Leaders of the Free World
6. Hot Chip - The Warning
7. Zero 7 - The Garden
8. The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
9. Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
10. The Knife - Silent Shout
11. My Brightest Diamond - Bring Me the Workhorse
12. Bitter:Sweet - The Mating Game
13. Stars of Track and Field - Centuries Before Love and War
14. Ghostland Observatory - Paparazzi Lightning
15. José González - Veneer
16. The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers
17. Alexi Murdoch - Time Without Consequence
18. Silversun Pickups - Carnavas
19. Mates of State - Bring it Back
20. Rocky Votolato - Makers

I couldn’t narrow it down to only 10 so here are my top 20 albums of 2006. Many of these were not too terribly successful or even known outside the Northwest, but to me what makes an album noteworthy is how deeply it affected my life during the year, how much it became the soundtrack of my life during that time. These are the closest to my heart this year.