*The Electric Company - for this was so much better than Sesame Street.  I loved the music and imagery.

*Star Wars - how can anyone from my generation not have this on their list?  I actually know someone who has never seen it, he’s only two years older than me too!

*Stripes - my first rated R movie.  The Nuns were not too happy with my father when I came into school the next day reciting the movies most memorable lines instead of the Bible.

*Olivia Newton-John - Grease and Physical.  Physical was the very first 45-record I ever bought.  I wanted my hair to look like hers but my lovely Asian locks wouldn’t allow it no matter how much Aqua Net I used.

*Duran Duran - this English pop band opened the door for me to love all things from the UK...as well become a huge part of the merchandising machine, from pillowcases, notebooks, and tshirts...I had to have it all.

*USA’s Night Flight - Hendersonville, NC didn’t have MTV on their cable lineup so this had to make due.  I was introduced to videos by Queen, and David Bowie with this show.

*John Hughes - did you forget that I was a child of the 80’s?  My favs in order:  Sixteen Candles, Ferris Bueller, Some Kind of Wonderful, and Weird Science

*Music for the Masses - while I liked Catching Up, this album turned me from like to freakish devotion.

*Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me - I refer to it as the ‘Hot Robert Smith period’.  In Between Days is my favorite Cure song, but this album lead the path to New Order, Joy Division, and The Smiths.

*Oingo Boingo - I went to see them live at the AZ State Fair in 1988, it was my first mosh pit experience and there was no looking back.  I went to every show in AZ and San Diego before they disbanded.

*Say Anything - My dad suggested that I see this movie.  I went for John Cusak, and fell in love with Cameron Crowe.  I loved everything about this story.  It was also the best soundtrack ever and the liner notes were written by a true fan.  I made all my friends see this movie over an over the summer of 1989.  Little did I know then that the love of my life would be standing in my front yard, boom box and Peter Gabriel over his head, and a ring in his hand.

*Clerks - this movie acted out every thought I had about my customer service employment and the lame ass phone calls I was paid to answer every day and going forward.  I never laughed so hard in my entire life.  This film also opened the door to my love for indie flicks.

*If Lucy Fell - Sarah Jessica Parker and I became reacquainted and I looked past the Square Pegs years.  My favorite bit, when Lucy and Joe are discussing how Lucy’s date took a dump in their bathroom.

*Amongst Friends - without this little movie we would have no Entourage.

*MYSCL - high school was long gone for me at this point but this show was my high school experience in nineteen episodes.  Jordan Catalano will always be hot.  Jason Katims went on to write Friday Night Lights..one of the best shows on TV.

*San Diego and happy hour - I turned twenty-one while I was going to school in San Diego, and with the help of my Squid neighbors I discovered that I didn’t need to shop for groceries when there is a happy hour somewhere.

*FIDM - I went there before Lauren and Heidi.  Even though I did not continue in a fashion career, I discovered my artistic talents here.

*Douglas Coupland and Microserfs - when I read this book in 1995 it was good, now that I am working in a techie cube farm it is great.

*The Real World - I was a devoted fan from NY to Vegas, after that it went downhill.  I still tune in from time to time but the early years are still my favorites.

*Culinary School - I became a chef before they started making reality shows about it.

*Zach Braff - I love Scrubs but Zach reached greatness when he wrote Garden State.  The movie and soundtrack is a regular on my iPod.

*Apple G4 - I bought this blue/grey machine from Courtney’s cousin in 2001.  I am now a true Apple fan owning stock, ipods, iphone, iMac, and a Macbook.  I am slowly bringing family and friends to the dark side.

*Vans - the classic skate shoes are all I wear.  Red, blue, chocolate and coming soon pink.

*TIVO - was there a life before TIVO?

*Scrapbooking - I started by collecting pretty sheets of paper.  It wasn’t until my niece and nephews were born that fell in love with it all.  I have a whole room dedicated for this hobby.