The Best of 2015

     Pretty simple....the highlights, lowlights and ordinary lights of the past twelve months.

Best Country Song of the Year -
     It was a pretty terrible year for country music - not much good was released, and Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton got divorced. Still, Brad Paisley is awesome. And the "Crushin' It" video is hilarious, making fun of everyone. Plus, what is more country than an entire song about crushing beer cans? Also from his Moonshine in the Trunk CD, "High Life" is pretty funny, and "Country Nation" reminded us that in this ever-splintering country of ours, there still can be common ground found. Carrie Underwood's "Smoke Break" is pretty good, too.

Best Non-Country Song of the Year -
     Also known as the "Year's Catchiest Earworm" or "Most Awesome Music Video" category. Carly Rae Jepsen's "I Really Like You" has Tom Hanks lip-syncing the whole thing, which is awesome, because he's Tom Hanks. Plus it's just fun. And certainly unexpected. Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood" is pretty lame as a song overall, but the chorus is pretty catchy. And the video is terrific, I would totally watch a whole movie with this plot.

Best Lip-Sync Battle -
      The Dubsmash War between the casts of Agent Carter and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 

Best Movie Seen in Theaters -
     The Avengers: Age of Ultron didn't quote match the hype, but nothing could have. And we all just misjudged what its role was in the MCU. Ant-Man was disappointing. Inside Out was one of the most brilliant pieces of Pixar work ever, which is saying something. I guess I'll go with Inside Out as the winner here.

Surprising Novels Which I Found I Really Enjoyed -
     Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park, Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind, Lief Enger's Peace Like a River, Neil Gaiman's Ocean at the End of the Lane, S.E. Hinton's Outsiders and James Dashner's Maze Runner. 

 Most Out-of-Character Experience -
     Binge-watching all seven seasons of Parks and Recreation in six weeks. (It was totally worth it.)

Favorite Parks and Rec Character -
     Uh.....everyone, duh. (Well, except for the Sapersteins, Joan Callamezzo, Jessica Wicks and Eagleton Craig...)

Favorite Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Character -
     Seriously, almost everyone...except Will, Lincoln and Joey.

Favorite Friday Night Lights Character -
     This is easier. Like the two shows mentioned above, everyone is so well-written. But I'm gonna go with either Matt Saracen or Tim Riggins.

Favorite Phineas and Ferb Character -
     EVERYONE. (Except Irving. Or Carl.)

Music I Discovered I Really Enjoyed -
     Relient K, Semisonic and Avril Lavigne.