The Summer of 2012, A Review

It's that time again... here's the 2012 Summer Review.

Best thing that happened: Stuart and I are together in the same city in the same house!

Worst: Beach trip

Best single day: Spending the day with Stuart going to the animal shelter, walking through downtown Waynesville, and eating at Bocelli's

Worst: Pick a day from the beach trip

New friend: Brandy, one of my staff writers, and Pauline!

Song of the summer: "Spotlight (Oh Nostalgia)" by Patrick Stump, the entire Trespassing album by Adam Lambert

Artist of the summer: Adam Lambert

Best day trip: Taking Kate and Seth to the WNC Nature Center; seeing the 4th of July fireworks at Lake Junaluska

Wish I had: gone tubing

Movie of the summer, DVD: Safe House, Machine Gun Preacher, Reel Steel, John Carter

Movie of the summer, theaters: Snow White and the Huntsman

Most proud of: Handling The Western Carolinian newspaper, mastering the Frisbee golf game in Wii Sports Resort

Could have lived without: upsets at the newspaper

Couldn't have lived without: Stuart's understanding

Loved: Walking through downtown Sylva and Waynesville with Stuart on several occasions, Nutmeg hysterically chomping on a cherry, playing tag with Sparta, getting away from that crazy landlord and moving to downtown Sylva 

Wished: Slowed down and enjoyed the little things, I could have gotten my security deposit from that crazy landlord in Cullowhee

Dreamed: about the zombie apocalypse

Surprised by: How well my relationship is with my grandmother now, needing to wear long pants in the middle of June and August

Appreciated: My family's support (those that did actually support me), Pauline's generosity and care

Hated: Family drama, not having cruise control in my Honda, the oppressive heat, not enough moments enjoying summer

Stressed over: Family drama, making the newspaper perfect, the newspaper's annual budget

Smiled at: Stuart bringing me Bojangles and flowers, Cherry Berry Chillers, Pauline's amazing ability to make me feel like the most loved person in the world, my aunt and grandmother's constant support, two silly beagles

Biggest change: Alcohol free, threw out my pineapple loveseat

To be continued: Finish my degree at Western Carolina University, continue to make The Western Carolinian an award-winning newspaper, cherish the little things in life, call my grandmother every Thursday

Play On and On and On

It is the beginning of summer, which means it is time to jump in the car and go on a...

ROAD TRIP!!!!!!!!!!!!

But, you can't go on a road trip without the right music!!! You have to have the right tunes to get through

• awkward silences
• when the conversation runs out
• when the road trip games take their toll
• when you can't stand to hear anymore about your dad's five-step success plan (as in Little Miss Sunshine)
• and just in general!

So, here is a list of 25 MUST HAVE SUMMER ROAD TRIP MUSIC (in no particular order) that you should definitely consider downloading before your next trip to the beach, Grandma's, or the nearest national monument. You can thank me later! Also in the list are hyperlinks that will take you to one of the many YouTube lyric videos for the song!!! There are some new songs that just came out and some oldies! Prepare and enjoy!!!

IT'S SUMMER!

1. "Paradise" by Coldplay
2. "Underneath" by Adam Lambert 
3. "Blow" by The Prom Kings
4. "Los Angeles" by Sugarcult
5. "Trespassing" by Adam Lambert... which has a very Queen vibe
6. "Starships" by Nikki Minaj
7. "A Thousand and One Nights" by the SMASH cast
8. "Boogie Wonderland" from Happy Feet... because you've got to have something from a musical, as if SMASH wasn't enough!!! Give me some credit, I didn't include anything from Glee
9. "Wild and Young" by American Bang 
10. "Blackout" by Breathe Carolina
11. As much as you can get from the Adventureland and Elizabethtown soundtracks!
12. "Touch Me" by the SMASH cast
13. "Never Close Our Eyes" by Adam Lambert
14. Anything by Carbon Leaf
15. "Let's Don't Call it a Night" by Casey James... in case you're into that country stuff
16. "Dulaman" by Celtic Woman
17. "You're Not Thinking" by Drake Bell
18. "Any Way You Want It" by Journey
19. "You Give Love a Bad Name" by Bon Jovi... from Barney's Psych Mix (How I Met Your Mother)
20. "Never Leave this Bed" by Maroon 5
21. "The Cave" by Mumford and Sons
22. "This City" by Patrick Stump
23. "I Don't Care" by Fall Out Boy
24. "Cuckoo" by Adam Lambert
25. "We are the Champions" by Queen... because you can't take an awesome road trip unless you're a champ!