Summer round-up: Castles, Spitfire, clear eyes and full hearts

Crazy year, crazy summer. The latter’s been made a little sweeter by:

This win for humanity, this tenacious Texas senator and this T-shirt (timed perfectly with my long overdue discovery of “Friday Night Lights”):

This firecracker, so energetic that she snapped me out of my jet lag funk at her Houston concert last week:

This understated Grand Ole Opry debut of Kree Harrison, one of five reality TV-boosted local singers I covered in the latest issue of Houston magazine (check it):

These comprehensive ‘All-Time Greatest’ lists over at Entertainment Weekly, outlining the best shows, movies, music and books of the past 100 years:

This honest discussion of Houston’s ethnic and cultural transformation:

This new album review format we introduced over at Country Universe, starting with LeAnn Rimes’ top-notch Spitfire (current favorite: “Who We Really Are”):

This view from the mountains in England’s Lake District…

…these ruins just south of Kilkenny, Ireland…

… this castle in Stonehaven, Scotland – all from a trip to Europe earlier this month with friends who have become like family…

…and this full circle opportunity to visit the site of my old school in Aberdeen, Scotland, just three days before it would be completely demolished:

It inspired me to reach out to a special teacher whose encouragement and belief in me as a (very) amateur sixth grade writer shaped me into the writer I am today. Learning that he had recently shared with his kids one of my writing samples from 15 years ago is the sweetest thing on this list.

*Post written to the tune of this acoustic beauty, currently on repeat.

Winter round-up: It's February?

The only things I remember from this whirlwind of a winter are a trip to NYC (for a Communications Executive Council conference and Paul Rudd), buying my first home, and ringing in what’s shaping up to be a pretty sweet year.

Somewhere in between, I did some writing:

• NBC may not have any faith in “Parenthood,” but I sure do – my Houston Press post from last year outlines why I think it’s the best family show on TV.

• Back in December, I got to interview Sugar Land’s own Katie Armiger for both Country Universe and Houston magazine. She’s a neat one – confident, composed and snarky in the best way.

• Speaking of Houston magazine, I loved interviewing this fabulous entrepreneur for the “Best of the City” issue. She’s as hilarious as she is inspiring – and talented, to boot.

• Around the first of the year, the Country Universe staff compiled our 2012 lists of top singles and albums, our most diverse sets to date. Have I mentioned how lucky I am to collaborate with these folks?

• Season 12 of “American Idol” is ridiculous, but it’s also fresh, engaging and — at least for now — ripe with talent. Last month, I covered the Houston sneak peek of the premiere for CultureMap, and I’ll be popping in here and there throughout the season.

I hope to be back in writing mode as soon as I figure out this whole homeownership thing. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with:

• This invitation to visit Houston.

• This quote. 

• This lyric:

“Happiness don’t drag its feet.”

• This new hairstyle.

• This old beauty:

• This new (to the U.S.) beauty:

And this overdramatic but partially true New York Times post on the end of dating. Funny and sad, no?