Slow down, you crazy child

As crazy as it may seem, it is apparently December and so 2014 is winding down to a close. New Year’s Eve is just nineteen days away. 

This year has been all over the place for me, which is true of every year, for everyone, I suppose. I did an internship at Emmis Austin Radio, where I met some really great people and did some really good work. Through that, I got to work at SXSW, moonlighting as a photographer of artists like Band of Skulls and Foster the People (I also got punched in the face for the first time in my life that week, by a drunk stranger). I saw my favorite band in the world play in Dallas for the very last time. I got to see Fall Out Boy again, this time with Paramore, and it was a dreamlike experience. I visited my long-lost best friend in the beautiful cities of Cambridge and Boston, Massachusetts. I started working for the music section of ORANGE Magazine, where I met even more great people. I was called back by Emmis to work at ACL, where–amongst other things–I stood two feet away from Lorde. I saw rock icon, Joan Jett, for free. I went to a few parties.

Band of Skulls, SXSW

Harvard.

St. Vincent, ACL.

I also, you know, went to class.

There have been some rocky patches this year, too, of course. Some rough things have come up. And, truthfully, I am ending 2014 in a swirl of angst that would make an emo kid cry, due to Affectionate Feelings. It’s very tenth grade and disgusting, but I am working through it. It will be fine. It always is.

In the end, the good outweighs the bad.

I have a family (however dysfunctional) that has supported me through everything I have ever tried to do. I have a fantastically tiny group of close friends who are great for going to coffee shops at 11PM, drinking margaritas and playing Cards Against Humanity, gossiping about people from our hometown, and so much more. I go to a great, well-respected university and, all things considered, my debt could be much higher. I live in a fantastic city, thriving with culture and characters. I have met a lot of people this year who will go on to great things and I will be able to say, “Oh, so-and-so? Yeah, I wrote on a magazine with them in college. They’re pretty cool, I guess.” I am only 22, though sometimes I forget.

Bad things happen in life a lot. Things get stressful, feelings get hurt, horrible people get away with horrible things. But, in the end, life is always worth it. 

Also, merry early Christmas:

And now for some end of the year entertainment recommendations: 

I saw some truly great movies this year, some of which I have already mentioned (Stuck in Love is still on Netflix, please watch it). 

One truly great standout is Advanced Style, a documentary about fierce, stylish old ladies in New York. It is everything. I laughed, I cried, I left totally inspired. Don’t hesitate to watch it; it is also on Netflix, so you have no excuse.

Here is one of the ladies: 

Ilona Smithkin, 94, cooler than everyone

You totally want to watch now, right? Go. Do it.

Also available via Netflix and worth checking out if you want to watch some weird stuff (my theme for this year, apparently): Side Effects (a twisty, psychological thriller); We Are What We Are (a Southern gothic horror movie with the craziest ending I have ever seen); Detention (so, so strange–it reminded me of a horror-tinged Max Keeble’s Big Move, which is maybe the weirdest thing I have ever said. But it has Josh Hutcherson in it); and Escape From Tomorrow (I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s a completely insane throwback-style horror movie that a group of people managed to film in Disneyland without Disney knowing. It’s worth watching on that basis alone, but fair warning, it does get pretty gross). 

Not available on Netflix, but still worth checking out: Dallas Buyers’ Club (worthy of all its awards); Guardians of the Galaxy (worthy of all its hype); The Way Way Back (a wonderful, heart-warming indie drama); and  Cabin in the Woods (I’ve mentioned it previously, but seriously, watch it). And some throwbacks I don’t know how I made it 22 years without: The Princess Bride, Pulp Fiction, Empire Records.

If you’re looking to do some reading over the holidays and are into young adult novels (it’s ok, don’t be ashamed), I recommend these:

And if you want some new songs to jam out to, check out this mildly eclectic YouTube playlist I made of the songs I currently have on repeat.

Happy holidays, y’all!