#2 – PacNo5: Seattle, Oregon, and Vancouver – If you’ve been around me for more than 10 minutes this year, you’ve definitely heard me go on-and-on about the Pacific Northwest.

I’ll quit talking about this place soon. Maybe.

My impulse purchase of plane tickets to Seattle one Saturday morning was one of the best random decisions I ever made.

Nine fun-filled days in Seattle, Portland, Rural Washington and Oregon, plus a day in Vancouver.

This trip sparked the purchase of my mini-camera, which I now carry with me everywhere.

People have asked me: “What was your favorite part of the trip?”
- Eating salmon in the Space Needle?
- The drive to Mount St. Helens?
- Walking across that freaky swing bridge?

While those moments were all unbelievable… I’d have to say the best part was standing on the sand in Cannon Beach, Oregon in the shadow of Haystack Rock, staring at the Pacific Ocean.

There’s just something about knowing that you can stand in a spot for as long as you want, and nobody can tell you when to leave. That’s why I love to travel by myself. Not that it doesn’t get a little lonely every now and then, but when you travel solo, you not only control the trip, you control the amount of time spent reflecting on the things of the world, big and small.

Alright… enough with the goobie reflection time.

#3 – Leaving Mississippi – This event doesn’t make the top of the list because I wanted it to happen. It makes the top because it happened.

I never imagined that when my parents dragged me out of bed one weekday during my Junior year of high school to visit MC that it would have this much of an impact on my life. From being a four-year undergrad, to a last-minute offer for full-paid graduate school, to being asked to come on as a full-time staff member.

Aside from simply leaving MC, I left “friends.” I put the word friends in quotation marks because that is such a weak word to describe the unbelievable impact so many people in the Magnolia State had on my life. It wasn’t easy to leave, which is probably why I was back in town three of the first four weekends after I moved.

Who knows, I might just be back soon.

#4 – Relationships – Old friends, new friends, red friends, blue friends… 2005 was a year of mingling for sure.

Saturday nights at Schimmel’s. Late nights in Rankin County with the Pinelake crowd. The aforementioned “Wedding Bonanza.”

I made quite a bit a new friends from other colleges and universities… namely, Mississippi State. State folks are a different breed. They’re fun, accomodating, but they never quit talking about Starkville. No one knows why. But we’ll let that slide.

Weekends on the Pettus’ couch and guestbed were the norm. Extended lunches at Chik-fil-A and Two Sister’s. Nights at home yelling at the television over Laguna Beach.

But while a large number of individuals had a great impact on my life, a small group of inidividuals had a huge impact on my life.

You know who you are. Thanks.

#5 – Hurricane Katrina – I wouldn’t actually put this in a “best of” category. I consider more of a “most impact” story.

As Katrina neared, my area of Central Mississippi started to take notice. Darkness fell, the power blew, and rumors of descruction in Biloxi were picked up via our television… whose source of electricity was our car battery.

Days of gasless automobiles and cold-water-showers (if you had any water) were overshadowed by the fear and concern for our neighbors on the coast and in New Orleans.

The nights spent trying to fall asleep in the hot-hot Mississippi heat without an air conditioner. I’ll never forget the erie silence of the city, a silence only broken by the soft hums of portable generators in the distance.

I don’t know if-and-when I’ll ever not be slightly nervous everytime the weatherman uses the phrase “tropical storm.” When you experience a hurricane, even in it’s mildest form… it has an effect, both good and bad.

#6 – The Wedding Season That Was – I think it’s over… anyone else getting hitched? Anybody?

Good, but May is just four months away. If there wasn’t a wedding every weekend in 2005, then there was two weddings per weekend.

From Jackson to Jasper, from Atlanta to Auburn, from Clinton to Columbus… I’ve given out more rice than a Chineese buffett. But in all honesty, it was a wonderful year for weddings.

But, statistically, 50% will be divorced within 20 years.

I’m only kidding folks. I’m only kidding.

#7 – Chicago – In the most last-minute of random tag-along trips, I got to spend quality time with two of my favorite girls from my college days, and made a new friend as well.

Lindsey Box [facebook], Laura Pickard [facebook] and Mollie McCormick [facebook] and I braved the windy city during four glorius days in mid-October. It was cold, but we wore thick clothes. It was tight, but the girls slept three to a bed while I kept watch. But most of all, it was fun.

Good food, good music, good hang-out spot, good encounters with stars… good times.

#9 – The Presidential Innauguration – Fellow MC grad David Ash and I packed our bags for 3 fun-filled days of snow, politics, and de-icing of planes. Just David, myself, my DC pal Erin Rexroth… and 650,000 of our closest friends stood in the freezing DC snow and ice while “W” took office for another four years.

I got a solid minute of face-time on ABC’s Good Morning America as friends and family called my cellphone to ask, “Were you just blowing kisses at the entire nation?”

Yes. Yes, I was.

#10 – The Book is Back – This item is more of a process of 2005. I began reading again. Those of you who know me best know of my disdain for books. I just can’t believe that people waste so much time on one, single, book.

However, in 2005 my attitude changed a great deal. I started (started) more than 10 books, picked up mag subscriptions to Forbes and Fortune, and I’ve also found a spot in my day for massive reading of blogs and other online news articles.

Problem is, I’m a work-a-holic, so the thought of leaving my computer to focus on one single project still doesn’t appeal to me… until I do it, and again realize how much I love to read.

While many of these are not the biggest stories of 2005, they were the ones JND recieved the most exposure from.

1 – Ashlee Simpon Booed at the Orange Bowl – The halftime performance heard ’round the world. As the show ended, the boos started… so we wrote about it, and posted a video of the end of the performance as well. Two days later, more than 260,000 people visited JND just to take a peek at the video.

2 – Pictures of Carolina Panthers Cheerleaders Released – Somehow, someway I was able to get into the Carolina Panthers team website to snag these pictures and bios before the site was shutdown and the pics and bios removed. We all know the story, and I’ll be following this one until it dies.

3 – American Idol Contestant Withdraws From Competition – It is true. We were the first to report this story, beating E! and Variety by almost two hours.

4 – Britney Spears’ Wedding Photos Hit The Net – I won’t tell how we were the first to get ahold of these… but we were the first. Just ask Gawker.

5 – Coverage of Hurrican Katrina – This one speaks for itself. ventured out to take pictures of minor devastation while the Hurricane struck my portion of Mississippi. I camped-out in one of the only locations with electricity and Internet in Central or South Mississippi. I was also the first journalist to openly criticize Kanye West for his unwanted remarks during the Katrina Relief Show. In the days that followed, journalism took a backseat as I helped college evacuees find a home at Mississippi College.

As I was sitting around this Christmas Eve, I began to think of all the traditional things I will engage in over the next 24 hours.

Our church Christmas Eve service is one.
Eating my mom’s famous soup is another.
And watching The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is the icing on the cake.

We own (to my knowledge) one of the only VHS copies in existence. We watch it every Christmas Eve once my brother and I finish swapping gifts. Sadly, he won’t be around this year… but the tradition must continue, and will continue onto my children, and maybe my children’s children.

Therefore, it is impossible for me to catagorize this classic children’s movie at this time, as it deserves more than a spot on a top ten list.

One of my favorite moments in television history that still appears to this very day, more than 40 years after its release. From A Charlie Brown Christmas:

“And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them! And they were sore afraid … And the angel said unto them, “Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings o great joy, which shall be to all my people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ, the Lord.”

“And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, and good will toward men.”

“That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.” – Linus Van Pelt

So, I’ve already recieved a couple emails/Facebook messages of, “We see what others like, but what were your favorite photos of 2005?”

Awww. I feel special.

It’s hard to rank them… but:

1 – ‘timber‘ – I don’t know what the big deal was about this picture, but I almost ran myself into a ravine in order to snap this shot at Mount St. Helens.

2 – ‘tribute‘ – This “statue” made of over 240 guitars sits in the “Experience Music Project” in Seattle. By far my most “print an 8×10 free copy for me” photo. Which I sometimes do.

3 – ‘suspense-sion‘ - The cost of admission just to take this shot and walk across this suspension bridge was well worth the costs. Yes, it’s as scary as it looks to walk across this thing. There are actually 2 “lifeguards” who sit at each end in big chairs to make sure you don’t “rock too much.”

4 – ‘face it‘ – This one has actually won me a couple of awards… but nothing major. The interesting thing is that if it hadn’t been so overcast and rainy that day in Chicago… this one wouldn’t have the effect it did.

5 – ‘blu sky‘ – While taking-in a Seattle Mariners/Boston Red Sox game in SafeCo Field in Seattle, Washington, the sunset was just right when a plane(you see it?) headed for Sea-Tac came into the shot for a nice semetric moment.

6 – ‘night star‘ – I was headed to a CD recording at Pinelake Baptist Church in Brandon Mississippi when I round the parking lot to find this scene. I think it speaks for itself.

7 – ‘waiting‘ – This was taken around 6:30 AM in Chicago. I was waiting on the “El Train” to O’Hare.

8 – ‘allegiance‘ - I was only planning on taking a picture of the giant flag… these two soldiers wandered into the picture just as I was taking the shot, making for quite a nice moment.

9 – ‘post alley‘ – My bedroom at the hostel actually overlooked this cobble-stone street underneath Pike Place Market in Seattle. To the left in the picture is the famous “gum wall” picture.

10 – ‘blue lake‘ - One of the most quiet moments I’ve ever experienced in life. Freaky quiet… but incredible as I stood at the base of Mount St Helens beside a lake that was actually created by the massive blast.

A Christmas Story – Where do I begin. I actually own a ‘Red Ryder B-B-Gun‘ as well as a ‘Leg Lamp.’ I don’t know what it is about this movie that captivates me every year. I can (but try not to) quote every line of this movie 10 minutes before it happens. I’m even on the fan email list of the individual who purchased the house used in the movie.

I love this movie… plain-and-simple. Random fact… I don’t own it, refuse to. It’s always a surprise to catch it running on TBS, TMC, or TNT.

It’s a Wonderful Life – What most people don’t know about this movie is that when it was first released on Christmas Day in 1946. It did such a horrible job at the box office that the studio who produced the film went bankrupt. Therefore, any television station who wanted to show the movie could do so without having to pay large royalties. That’s why it ended up showing up on television every five minutes until its popularity swelled, and NBC bought the rights.

“This is a very interesting situation!“

Miracle on 34th Street – “Which one?” you might say (if you know your Christmas movies). I like the Santa Claus of the 1947 movie better, but I like the ending of the 1994 movie better. However, they are both classics… you can’t go wrong on either one of them.

Home Alone – In my opinion, this is the Christmas movie that defines my generation. You remember those ads? “How many times have you seen Home Alone?” I still can’t get enough of this movie. The second one is great, but the first will always be a Christmas classic.

Elf – Take one part Christmas, and two parts Will Ferrell… and you’ve got yourself a new Christmas favorite. Too many one-liners to quote here. Just go see it, again and again.

“The yellow ones don’t stop.”

The beginning of the end of the year. The following are the “most popular” photos taken by yours truly over the last year. They were voted-on and viewed by more than 22,000 people from all around the world via Flickr.

The number one spot: Ironic 2, a picture I first took while (stupidly) driving around while Hurricane Katrina hit Central Mississippi.

Top Ten “Most Favorited”
1 – ‘ironic 2‘
2 – ‘monk‘
3 – ‘rows‘
4 – ‘mount porthole‘
5 – ‘sunset over bama‘
6 – ‘face it‘
7 – ‘post alley‘
8 – ‘fight‘
9 – ‘night in chicago‘
10 – ‘blue lake‘

Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer – A Claymation classic. Rudolph, Hermey, Yukon Cornelius and the whole gang get together to get Santa through the worst Christmas weather ever. I cry a tear of joy just thinking about this movie…

Prancer – When this little girl finds Santa’s lost ‘Prancer’, she also finds herself. You think I’m being cheesey, but just wait ’til you see this Christmas tear-jerker. There’s a ‘Prancer 2‘, but I’ve never seen it… and don’t plan to, as this Christmas classic can’t be beat.