If you stand close to it, you will go up on the evolutionary scale.

Here's the new phone I got for Christmas. After receiving it, I considered tossing a bone into the air to see if it would turn into a space ship. I love it. Along with the phone, I got a cold for Christmas. Cold Ease lozenges are my new favorite snacks because I really don't want to be sick for the rest of the holidays.

While visiting with friends, I had the opportunity to play Guitar Hero. I did pretty well on the "Easy" setting. I conquered "Kool Thing," "La Grange," and "Barracuda." But, as soon as I had to toss in that pinkie finger on the "Medium" setting, I tanked big time. I made up for it playing bass on "Sabotage."

I had to work on Friday so thankfully missed the early riser sales. I did swing over to Wal-Mart this weekend. I try to avoid Wally World at all costs, but my boss got me a gift certificate there as a present so I was a bit stuck. Somehow, and I still don't know how this got there in the first place, I found the 2 disc director's cut of Zodiac on DVD for $5! Seriously. I am as confused as you are, but I snatched it up right away. I watched about half of it last night listening to the audio commentary featuring James Ellroy. He is insane, but very funny.

And, speaking of movies. Here is my annual Faves list. The best of list will wait till Oscar season since several movies haven't made it to the sticks yet.

**MISH'S FAVE MOVIES OF 2008**
1. The Fall--The most visually interesting movie of the year as far as I'm concerned. Read about it here.

1. The Dark Knight--Brilliant, twisted, troubled and funny in a macabre sort of way. Fave part: the pencil trick that lets you know just how unforgivably and unsympathetically insane the Joker is.

2. WALL*E and Kung Fu Panda. Each of these movies showed just how beautiful and emotionally resonant animation can be. The folks behind WALL*E deserve some sort of award. They gave real character and depth to inanimate objects. Relying on sound design and truly smart storytelling, you followed the story and cared about the little robots (and the buddy cockroach). Made me cry. As did, Kung Fu Panda. Again, beautiful animation plus smart writing that elevated a pretty recognizable storyline. Great voice work by Jack Black and Dustin Hoffman.

3. In Bruges--Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson star in a deeper than you think it's going to be "comedy" about two hitmen hiding out in Bruges. Farrell really shines and I'm sure it doesn't hurt that he has Gleeson, who is always great, to play off of. It got lost in the shuffle (bad release time frame, bad promotion--it's not a rollicking comedy), but it really stood out.

4. Iron Man and Wanted. Go here and here. Highlight moment of Wanted: Wesley hits his "best friend" with his keyboard at work and as the keys, and a tooth, fly by the screen we get the words "Fuck you" spelled out. HA!

5. Doomsday--This movie is completely insane. It's part Mad Max, part medieval action movie, part sci-fi; it's all over the place, but this is a very good thing. Directed by the same guy who gave us the super creepy cool movie, The Descent, Doomsday runs over and through almost every genre, but still comes out with its own voice. It has its own rulebook, but it follows those rules which keeps it from becoming a hodge podge of "I'm not sure what I want" sort of moments. Very entertaining.

6. Quantum of Solace. Short recap here.

7. Zack and Miri Make a Porno. Go here.

8. Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day. Light, frothy, and brimming with great actors and smart writing. Francis McDormand, Lee Pace, Cirand Hinds, and Amy Adams make this a true pleasure to watch.

9. Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull. Get your Ford on here.

10. Mamma Mia, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist and Penelope. Mamma Mia is just fun. Nick and Norah made me love Michael Cera even more and Penelope had James McAvoy with shaggy hair. Nuff said.

Side note moment: Best use of gratuitous partial nudity combined with soap and water in a movie--Hugh Jackman cleaning up towards the beginning of Australia. It's overdone on purpose, but as a straight gal I want to thank Baz for going over the top.

To check out in '09:
Slumdog Millionaire, Waltz With Bashir, Happy Go Lucky, Benjamin Button, Rachael Getting Married, The Wrestler, Tell No One, and Frost/Nixon.

Whoosh. That was long. Next time, music. Run away now.