Summer 2010.

I swear, I'm planning on going to a boatload of concerts next summer. This is the first time in a long time that I am actually looking forward to the summertime. I usually hate the summertime. I hate the heat, being bored, and having no job. Having an optimistic attitude about things is not how I usually operate, but I'll give it a try when thinking ahead to summer of 2010. I had planned on getting a job and going to a lot of concerts this year, but ended up not getting a job, so I only made it to about 5 or 6 concerts this summer. I'm kicking myself for not going to see Grizzly Bear and Beach House in Brooklyn. It was free. Why I chose not to go? I have no idea. I just found out yesterday that Jay-Z, Beyonce, and Solange were in attendance, too. Not as performers; just members of the audience. That wasn't the only free concert I had decided not to attend, either. I chose to stay home instead of seeing Jazmine Sullivan and Chrisette Michelle in Central Park. Ryan Leslie showed up to perform, as well. The reason for me not attending the concert in Central Park stems from my experience from the last concert I had attended at Central Park with Chester French, Q-Tip, and Little Dragon (I have July blog entry about the concert). It had nothing to do with the performers, but the weather and how the concert was conducted. It was incredibly hot, and the intermissions between acts were over half an hour long. I was hot and my legs were killing me. In the end, I'm kicking myself for not going to that concert, too.

So next summer, I'm planning on:

• Getting a job
• Going to a lot more concerts than this year
  
• Reading at least 10 books
• Getting a camera; I need something around $400-500. Most likely a Nikon (D40 or D60).

These aren't all my plans, but they are the essentials for me having an enjoyable summer next year.

TCM.

I am truly amazed at how much I love this channel. There are so many gems on here. I mean, I'm not a big movie person at all, so this is one of the last channels that I had ever imagined being one of my favorites. When I say I'm not a big movie person, I mean it. Hell, I've never seen a movie from the Godfather series. I can go on and on about popular movies I haven't seen. I guess there's just something about watching movies that were made 50 to 70 years ago that just pulls me in.

Alyssa Bernal.

Man, were there some great albums (and a few great mixtapes) released this year.

A few notable albums that are all worth checking for:

Faunts - Feel.Love.Thinking.Of
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion
Kid Cudi - Man on the Moon
Melanie Fiona - The Bridge
The xx - xx
Scarlett Johansson & Pete Yorn - Break Up
Drake - So Far Gone

Drake's mixtape is honestly one of the best mixtapes I have ever heard.

The Faunts' album happens to be my favorite of the year.