No end of year ruminating here.

So long 2012, don't let the door hit you on your ass on the way out.

Hello 2013, I'm looking forward to a nice, healthy relationship with you!

Your jam of 2013.

If you're not down with Free Energy yet, you will be. Don't get left behind! This album, Love Sign, is already stuck on repeat for me.

Mayhaps not the top albums of 2012, but certainly my favorites.

Twenty albums, seventy five songs; this was my 2012. Thoughts?

I'm goin' hooooome.

Sitting on a plane waiting for takeoff and excited to be heading home to see my fuzzy lady-friends. Unfortunately I'm leaving my human lady-friend in St. Louis. Boo. Luckily I won't be without her for long since she's only two days behind me!

Holiday cheer!

I hope everyone is enjoying their day off!

Need a bit of an eye opener?

Michelle recommends a cup of joe if you're looking for an eye opener!

I'm on vacation! So now what?

I don't have to be in the office again at the 9-to-5 until 2013. And I'm already filled with anxiety. What if something happens while I'm out? Will I be so far behind and buried when I go back in? How the heck do I actually take a vacation?

Of course the answer to all of the above is to simply take a vacation, since all those doubts are bubbling up because it's just been too long since I took any time off work that didn't result from me dealing with a concussion. Heck, even taking this time off doesn't see me dipping into actual vacation days!

So obviously I need to force myself to just step away, unplug and enjoy some time to myself. I'm not even sure I know how to do that any more, but I'm going to do my best.

I deserve it.

A Total Eclipse Of The Voice.

The Voice is far and away the best vocal talent show on TV. Sure, none of the contestants have gotten really famous yet, but at least they all have to be actually talented to get in (mostly). No, what makes The Voice so watchable is the judges. And it looks like it's going to be even more watchable next season. Here is why.

The return of Rancid?

So, like, I remember first hearing Rancid in my college record store in the early '90s* and asking the clerk about it since I was digging it. It was snotty punk, rude, but there was this sing-along quality t it that made it rise above what else was out there at the time. the clerk told me it was "some of the dudes from Operation Ivy's new band" and I immediately grew super stoked to hear the rest of the album. So I ran home, grabbed a few CDs I no longer listened to, sold them to a college bookstore down the street because they paid better, and then ran back to buy the Rancid album.

I stopped following the band after ...And Out Come The Wolves because they no longer really hit me in that sweet spot with the material that followed. It just grew more cartoonish to me. And to be honest, I thought they had broken up, but it appears as if I'm wrong. This shows how much they fell off my radar! Anyway, it appears they are still together and thriving and have released a new song that you can snag for yourself, for free, below. "Fuck You," is still pretty cartoonish—the song is called "Fuck You" for christ's sake—but I'm digging it's deranged sock hop vibe. I'm not gonna say the band's really reignited my interest in them, but it is a nifty little tune, and it's free! And now it's made me want to go back and listen to the stuff from their early years too.

*Also, and file this under "HOW CAN THIS BE POSSIBLY TRUE," Rancid is celebrating their 20th anniversary. Sheezus, I am old.

Holiday party hats!

I think the best thing about Christmas is that the holiday party trains slams to a stop on that day. Sure, you've still got New Year's Eve, but that's one day. Hey, I like a holiday party just as much as the next guy or gal, but by this point in December I'm starting to get burned out.

O.K., see ya ... gotta head to another holiday party!*

*I actually love holiday parties, and the one this evening is no exception. Just to make that clear!

What do I have to say?

Occasionally I get requests from college students to interview me. I'm always flattered but also always confused because I'm not sure what I have to offer them? Because of that I almost always decline, worried I'll just waste their time. But you know what? Maybe I do know a thing or two and maybe I need to dig down and learn how to convey that because I have a responsibility to pass that sort of thing on.

Right?

Year end lists.

Here's the thing about year end lists; you should use them to discover stuff you missed and not think of them as reinforcing beliefs or choices you already had or made. That's my belief anyway. So if you're making one, make sure you focus on what really worked for you in the last year, and not what was just popular under critical consensus.

The grunge Beatles?

Fittingly, the surviving members of Nirvana played a song they wrote with paul McCartney last night. I say fittingly since nirvana was basically The Beatles to a generation.

Share Breakfast.

I know I rarely feature my 9-to-5 work here, but I helped create this for my client and I am so proud of the result and the worthy program it's associated with. It's so easy to take action so share this with a friend!

A very special holiday message for you.

This cat like chocolate chip cookies almost as much as I do.

The epic ballad of Jesse Pinkman.

I can't believe this is the guy I play kickball with once a year. I think one can argue Jesse Pinkman has become the most interesting character in Breaking Bad, and while I feel things probably won't end well for him, I'm holding out hope that they do.

2012: My life in photos!

OK, so this isn't exactly 100% accurate, but I made a little automatic collage using Animoto. It combs through your Facebook photos and animates a couple together. I'm going to guess it's based on likes or popularity of the image? Anyway, enjoy! And if you feel like making your own, be sure to send me a link so I can see it!

This person has really helped get me through the past few days.

Thanks, Ke$ha. Warrior (mostly) kicks ass.

It's a fine vintage, the mash(-up) is from 2012.

Duh. Who doesn't do a super mash-up of the year's biggest songs nowadays? This one is pretty good though, and I'm sharing it because a) I still can't get used to the fact that Nate Ruess is now a bonafide pop star and b) Nate is butted up against Kelly Clarkson, making me now wish they do a MASSIVE duet in 2013.

As usual I barely have time to think so let's dance.

A reminder of how unexpectedly great Yukon Blonde is. Enjoy.

The impending holidays.

Who here has pretty much from Christmas to New Year's off work? I'm using some vacation days to ensure I am and I plan on vegging out and taking in lots of movies and sedentary non-activity. And I'm really looking forward to almost everyone else I know being in the same position so I have no worries that I'm missing something or falling behind or anything like that.

I think I'll take advantage of that time to follow Pickle's excellent example, pictured below.