January Sawfish Trip, 2009

Protected Species Permit # SEFSC-NMFS-13330
Everglades National Park Permit # ENP-2009-SCI-0002

Monday, January 26
Met at 5 am. We’d packed the gear on Friday, but fitting in luggage and groceries for 4 girls for a week before I had the proper amount of caffeine required some mad Tetris skills. Rolled out around 5:30 am. Hit I-10 before 7 am. Note to self: the gas stations at the I-10/Hwy-231 exit are not open before 7 am. First stop, lunch at Arby’s. I think we were in Ocala. Second stop, Micanopy for gas. Boat trailer was riding well. Wheels were warm, but not hot. The nice lady at the gas station counter was quite interested in our research. She’d never heard of a sawfish before. Back on the road, traffic was light. Picked up a pretty cool Classic Rock station and afternoon radio show out of Tampa. I began to really wish the F-350 had cruise control because my lower back and knee were starting to ache. Stopped again in East Naples for gas before the final push down US-41 to Everglades City. Sun was going down and there was a light, warm breeze. Saw several alligators in the canals along the road. Lots of ibis and heron, too. Even though I know we’re only 45 minutes from civilization, this area is wild and remote. Checked into Captain’s Table Lodge. When I asked the lady at the counter where we could park our truck and boat, she said, Just have him back into one of the long spaces at the end of the building. Him, I asked? The two men in the back office chuckled. The lady turned red and apologized. I told her it was ok, we get that all the time, and we don’t mind. Unpacked the truck before sustaining too many mosquito bites. Made a mental note to book an apartment with a screened-in porch for next time. Walked over to the Everglades Seafood Depot for Taco Night. I would have eaten my shoe at this point. Got to know the interns a little better over a couple beers. In recounting my excursion with Mote last spring, realized that I forgot to pack the push pole. Decided not to let it ruin the trip. Vowed to have Steve, the maintenance and repair specialist, install brackets on the boat so it would never happen again. Looked at the chart, tides, and planned the next day. Paid the $10 fee for internet use for the week. Prepped tomorrow’s Crock-Pot dinner, Barley and White Bean Soup. Exhausted from the drive. Passed out before 10 pm.

Tuesday, January 27
Up at 6 am. Made turkey sandwich for lunch. Sunrise at 7 am. Drove to Chokoloskee Island. Called the ENP Ranger and left a float plan. At the dock, spoke to some local fishermen about our research. On the water by 7:30 am. Outgoing tide. Followed the Wilderness Waterway all the way to Last Hudson Bay, looking for new born and young-of-the-year sawfish. No sawfish, but the scenery is so beautiful. And quiet. Alicia, my technician, remembers a lot about the area from her time spent here last year as an intern with Mote Marine Labs. Her pointers are invaluable. Boat drives like a dream. Got stuck once because I panicked and came down off a plane. Pushed us off and sliced my foot on a shell in the mud. Ouch! Played around with the trim and jack plate, getting to know the boat’s limitations better. Taking corners is exciting, but requires coming off the throttle a bit to minimize drift. Fished the slack tide at Crooked Creek. Fished the incoming tide at Mud Bay. The interns are awesome, trudging through thigh-deep mud and cold water at my every whim. No sawfish. Saw lots of mullet jumping. Air is warm (72 oC), but water is still cold (19 oC). Headed back to the dock at 5 pm. Local guys from the morning were at the dock and asked how it went. Called the ENP Ranger. Pulled the boat out, hosed it down, paid for two bags of ice and two day’s launch fee. Spoke to a local charter fisherman about our research. Said he sees the 4-5 ft juveniles at the mouth of Rogers and Broad Rivers. Took his card and gave him mine, telling him I would check it out. Asked JC, my supervisor and co-PI, to please get in touch with Joana at UF and have her FedEx us some posters and brochures to pass around. Back at the apartment. Pilates. Shower. Quick trip to the small grocery across the street for a few supplies. Wrote a post card to the PC Lab. Looked up the difference between red, black, and white mangroves. Dinner. Looked up where the Rogers and Broad Rivers meet. Entirely too far a steam from where we are this trip. Planned the next day, deciding to wait until 11 am to launch and fish the incoming tide at Hurddles Creek and Mud Bay all afternoon. Prepped tomorrow’s Crock-Pot dinner, Italian Chicken. Watched FRINGE. In bed by 10 pm.

Wednesday, January 28
Up at 8 am. Walked around, taking photos. Purchased bungee cords and a pad lock for the dry box at the local hardware store. Spoke to the lady behind the counter about our research. Checked on prices for an airboat ride. Surprised they are so expensive ($40 per person!). Back to the apartment. Everyone else is just getting up have been woken by the maid. Made turkey sandwich for lunch. Drove to Chokoloskee Island. Called the ENP Ranger and left a float plan. On the water by 11 am. Made our way to Mud Bay, still looking for newborn and young-of-the-year sawfish. Hung out for an hour, then motored back to Hurddles Creek. Fished the incoming tide. No sawfish. Moved back to Mud Bay and continued to fish the incoming tide. Water was a bit warmer, but likely due to it running in over the warm, sun-exposed mud. No sawfish, but we did catch 4 hardhead catfish and a couple mullet. Back at the dock at 5 pm. Local guy from the previous day serenaded us while we put the boat back on the trailer. Called the ENP Ranger. Hosed boat down. Back to the apartment. Did Alicia’s 20 minute Turbo Jam video. Showered. Dinner. Posters and brochures came FedEx. Left some with the lady at the hotel’s front desk. Planned to launch early at Port of the Islands and fish the incoming tide closer to the coast, possibly catching the larger juveniles or adults. Watched LOST. About dang time they had a super awesome episode. In bed shortly after.

Thursday, January 29
Up at 6 am. Out the door by 7:30 am. Gave posters to hardware store, airboat ride gift shop, and restaurant. Saw several alligators sunning themselves at the edge of the marsh along the road. At the boat launch by 8 am. Spoke to a local man at the dock. He was very kind, wondering if we had the proper charts and knew the area. Also commented on how nice the boat and engine are. He asked if we had cell phones and noted that we had a VHF radio, commenting that we didn’t want to spend the night on the water. I assured him that NOAA was quite safety conscious and told him about our EPIRB, too. Signed in at the gift shop and gave lady some posters and brochures. Launch fee was waived because we are a government entity. 45 minute motor down Faka Union Canal at idle speed, watching for manatee. No manatee. Fished the outgoing and slack tide in Faka Union Bay. No sawfish, but saw a bonnethead cruising the mud flats. Fished the incoming tide around Marker “17 between Faka Union Bay and Panther Key. The current was really ripping. Scary how strong and fast it is. Note to self: don’t fall in. No sawfish, but 1 gafftopsail catfish. Reminded myself to not get frustrated because, afterall, we are looking for an endangered species. Air temperature warm (75 oC). Headed back to Faka Union Bay and fished the incoming tide. Two sets on north side of channel across mud flats between two larger mangrove islands – 1 southern stingray. No sawfish. Two sets on south side of channel around several smaller mangrove islands – 1 southern stingray, 1 gafftopsail catfish, and 1 young-of-the-year bull shark. No sawfish. Sun was getting low and decided to head back to dock. Made great time up Faka Union Canal with the incoming tide. Alicia drove. No manatee, but lots of ibis and heron. Drove back to the apartment feeling victorious over a week well spent. Excited about getting a tag on that bull shark, too. Texted JC to let him know we were off the water. Made dinner, Chili. Showered. Decided not to work out, cracked a cold one, and toasted to everyone making it through with all fingers and toes and no real hang-ups with the boat or gear. Ate, hung out, talked, and watched some TV. Packed up our stuff. Made plans to get up early and get back on the road.

Friday, January 30
Up at 5 am. Packed the truck. Checked out. On the road by 6 am. Heavy fog. Breakfast at the Cracker Barrel in East Naples. Bacon, eggs, and biscuits and gravy. Coffee was strong. Waitress was sweet. Couldn’t get out of the store without purchasing some sour Jelly Belly jelly beans. Never can. Back on the road to light fog and drizzle. Interns sleeping in the backseat. Alicia talking and helping me stay awake. Stopped for gas in Tarpon Springs. Note to self: don’t stop at this exit again as the gas station is far from the interstate and in a heavily congested area. Weather cleared up and temperature dropped. Lunch at a Wendy’s in Gainesville. Again wishing for cruise control. Lower back is very tired. Quick stop at a rest area for a bathroom break and a DDP. Merged on to I-10 west around 2:30 pm. Consuela, the front office secretary, called about my timesheet and asked if we would be at Theo’s, our acting lab director’s, going-away party tonight. I told her I was tired, but would pull it together to hang out for a bit. Stopped in Tallahassee for gas at a Flying J. Watched a huge RV back into a smaller RV. If you can’t park it, don’t drive it. Final push down Hwy-231 and back at the lab by 6:30 pm. Parked the truck and boat up top and decided to come in tomorrow to clean everything. Drove down below to see what was up with the party. Two slices of cold pepperoni pizza saved my life. Good news! Katie, a colleague, had been admitted to the hospital around 5:30 pm and her contractions were 7 minutes apart. It was nice to see everyone smiling and having a good time. Spoke to several people about the trip. Shook Theo’s hand and told him how much of a difference I thought he has made at our lab. Also got to say goodbye to JC before he leaves for his 2 month rotation at the Miami Lab. Left the lab tired, happy, and ready to sleep in my own bed.

25 Random Things

1. I am a constant and steadfast list maker. I also thoroughly enjoy organizing, labeling, sorting, cleaning, stacking, and filing.

2. As much as I try, I cannot bring myself to like cottage cheese. This pains me because I know how healthy it is. Every so often, I will try it again to see if my tastes have changed (like they did for sour cream, dark beer, and mushrooms). So far, they have not.

3. I am a certified SPINNING instructor.

4. As if those last two comments didn’t give it away, I am a health nut. Gym rat, too.

5. I get super excited about road trips with friends. In fact, I get more excited about the road trip than the destination. Life is a highway …

6. I adore cooking. I find it both relaxing and rewarding.

7. No matter how confident I may seem, I get stage fright. Bad.

8. I prefer salty to sweet. That said,

9. My favorite candy is sour Jelly Belly jelly beans.

10. When it comes to household chores, I prefer laundry to the vacuum.

11. I am both extremely anxious and extremely excited about being in charge of the new field project that starts next week in the Everglades. My greatest fear? Running the boat aground.

12. I miss my sister everyday.

13. I dislike doing things that I am not automatically good at. That said,

14. I am always up for a challenge and am highly competitive.

15. Negativity really bums me out.

16. If you need it, chances are I have it in my bag or car or purse. If I don’t, then I will the next time someone asks.

17. One of my yoga goals this year is to be able to do a headstand.

18. I dig being in my 30s way more than I ever thought I would.

19. Sometimes I hurt the ones I love the most. I am not proud of this and have been working very hard to change.

20. I believe that communication can solve every problem; however, effective communication is not always my strongest suit. Again, something I am working hard to change.

21. Wearing boots makes me feel powerful and sexy.

22. I love rock and roll so put another dime in the jukebox, baby!

23. Litter bugs get under my skin.

24. Napping is one of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon.

25. The sticker on my Nalgene bottle reads : Those that say it cannot be done shouldn’t interrupt the people doing it.

Three Day Weekend

Friday
Off work at 430p. Blogged. 630p dinner at Kobe with friends. Yummy sashimi and a couple Kirin. Much deserved. Took some photos. Back home. Rock Band II until I couldn't keep my eyes open.

Saturday
Workout legs and shoulders. Lyrical from 1130 to 1230p. Tried a new recipe (Seafood Salad) for lunch. The crab made it a little too fishy tasting. Next time, I'll make it with shrimp only. Called Mom to get the recipe for her Ambrosia. When she called back, we chatted for an hour. Showered. Nap from 3 to 4p. Bowling at Rock'it Lanes with friends at 5p. Took some photos. Headed over to Los Antojitos for dinner. Matt was our waiter. Gosh, what a super nice guy! Myntalina's Burrito with Chicken and a margarita. Hung out, talking until 9p. Home again to play online a bit. Pulled Alex from the couch and made our way upstairs.

Sunday
CBS Sunday Morning with coffee and breakfast. Oatmeal. Cleaned the house, laundry, paid bills, made menu and grocery list for the week. Nap from 3 to 4p. Grocery shopping at Publix. Made Mom's Ambrosia. Took some photos. 7p dinner at Guglielmos Italian Grill in Pier Park with friends to celebrate a couple birthdays. Nice bottle of pinot - McManis. Soup was thumbs-up. Marinara on Alex's pasta was excellent. Waiter was great!

Monday
Two week weight-in. Minus 1 lb. SPINNING 530 to 630a. Endurance on a Hill. Mom's Ambrosia for breakfast. So many memories in that small bowl of fruit. Showered. Watched MLK "I Have a Dream" speech online. Started to really feel excited about the inauguration. Shopped a bit online - Ecoproducts.com and Old Navy. Long lunch at Liza's Kitchen with friends. Had the Warm Salad Napoleon and a cup of Tomato Basil. Target for a couple items. Nap from 3 to 4p. A bit more laundry. Grilled salmon and broccoli for dinner. Took some photos. Ballet from 7 to 8p. The instructor has increased the difficulty of the barre and floor work. I need to keep reminding myself I've only been dancing 10 months so as not to get frustrated. Came home and made green tea. Felt better. Blogged.

The Lesson

I had an epiphany the other night just before falling asleep. My last thought was ..

Wait. Let me back up.

It started in the second grade, when my family moved from the county to inside the city limits of Dalton. Both my parents were teachers and they knew the city schools were better. Plus, with the edition of my younger sister, our small house on Westwood Circle was getting cramped. I left behind the only neighborhood friends I had ever known.

In the third grade my best friend moved away. She was the only person I liked at that school.

I had a friend die unexpectedly in the eight grade.

My great grandmother died around the same time that her daughter, my grandmother, fell ill. So, two weeks before my junior year in high school, my family moved from north Georgia to southwest Louisiana to help take care of her. At sixteen, this was traumatic. I didn’t speak to anyone for a year, including my parents.

I left a boyfriend in Lafayette when I moved to college in Hattiesburg. He was a year behind me in school.

It happened a few times in college when the upper level undergrads or graduate students that I had become friends with would graduate and enter the real world.

I left a boyfriend in Hattiesburg when I moved to Panama City to take an internship. I left another when I moved to Raleigh for graduate school.

When I left Raleigh to take a job in Panama City, several friends were there to say goodbye. I seldom speak with any of them.

My grandfather passed away shortly after moving back.

A couple years into my new job, I lost a good friend to graduate school. When she moved away, we hardly ever spoke. Both of us were busy. Time passed and we grew apart. Now, we hardly know each other.

My sister lived with me for a whole year. In that year, we became closer than we have ever been. She moved away upon being accepted to ULM’s Pharmacy School.

Every year, young undergrads and recent graduates come through the internship program at my lab. For three months, they belong to me. They are there whenever I need them. Every time I ask. No matter the task. Then, they’re gone.

I completed the 365 Days Challenge on Flickr in 2007. I made a lot of online friends that year from around the world. Beautiful, witty people who cared about the art. Come December 31, 2007, I put down my camera and pretty much disappeared from Flickr. I’ve only recently come back to it this year upon accepting the challenge again for 2009. Most of my friends are still there, but most have also moved on. A year is a long time to be away.

My last thought the other night before falling asleep was, “This is the lesson I have to learn.”

My lesson in this life is to learn how to hold on to the people I love. No matter the distance.

These days, you can find me via Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, MySpace, CaptainBallerina.com, and three different emails every day. I purchased a Blackberry also so I am never off the grid. If you need me, I am there. I spend a lot of time plugged in and I love it. My new mantra is, There is no substitute for time.

Recently, my technician and best friend moved away for graduate school.

My personal trainer, workout partner, and the woman who pushed me to become a Spinning instructor moved to Hawaii because her husband got a great promotion.

My sister spent the holidays with me. She has now gone back at her home, starting her last semester of classes in pharmacy school.

In February, a kindred spirit that I’ve only recently had the pleasure of calling friend will be moving back to her hometown.

Am I sad? Not really. These are opportunities for me to learn my lesson.

***

And then you had to bring up reincarnation over a couple of beers the other night. And now I’m serving time for mistakes made by another in another lifetime.
- The Indigo Girls, “Galileo”

Lentil & Rice Cakes w/ Spicy Refried Beans

Ingredients

Lentil & Rice Cakes
5 c. water, divided
1 c. dried lentils
1/2 c. brown rice
1/2 c. red bell pepper, diced
1/2 c. yellow onion, diced
2 tbs garlic, minced
1 c. mozzarella, shredded
1/4 c. breadcrumbs
1 tbs red pepper flakes
1 tsp salt
2 large egg whites, about 1/4 c.
2 tbs olive oil, divided
Salsa and low fat sour cream, on side
Arugula, on side

Spicy Refried Beans
1 tsp olive oil
2 15oz can white beans
1 15oz can diced tomatoes
1/4 c. salsa

Directions
1. Bring 4 cups water to a boil. Add lentils. Cover. Reduce heat. Simmer 20 minutes or until lentils are tender. Drain and rinse with cold water. Place in large bowl.
2. Combine 1 cup water and rice. Cover. Reduce heat. Simmer 20 minutes or until rice is tender. Add rice to bowl.
3. Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add bell pepper, onion, and garlic. Saute 2 minutes. Cool. Add cheese and remaining ingredients. Stir well. Add to lentil and rice mixture.
4. Wipe skillet. Heat 2 teaspoons olive oil over medium heat. In 1/4 cup portions, spoon 3-4 cakes into pan. Cook 5 minutes. Flip carefully. Cook 5 more minutes. Repeat process, adding oil as needed, until all mixture is cooked.
5. While cakes are cooking, drain white beans and tomatoes and place in a saucepan over medium heat. Add olive oil and salsa. Heat for 5 minutes. Mash with potato masher or large spoon. Continue to heat on low until ready to serve.
6. Serve with sour cream, salsa, and arugula.

January High Energy/Interval Ride

36 working minutes (12 x 3) with 2 recoveries.

Stress to students that the objective is to stay aerobic (not over 85% HR) while working and get your HR down as quick and possible to 65% in the recovery.

***

1. Baba O’Riley - The Who (5:01) Warm up

***

Flat Road/Light Hill (80-100 RPM; 85% HR)
2. Pretty Please - Estelle (3:58) - Cadence check
3. Around the Bend - The Asteroids Galaxy (3:49)
4. This is Not the End - The Bravery (3:59)

Sit, Run, Jump, Run :: 30 seconds :: x6 = 12 minutes

Remind students to add enough resistance to balance their weight when coming out of saddle.

5. Hounds of Love - The Futureheads (3:03) Recover to 65% HR, Maintain

***

Moderate Hill (70-80 RPM; 85% HR)
6. Never Never Love -Pop Levi (3:08) - Cadence check
7. Hold On - KT Tunstall (2:58)
8. Bom Bom Bom - Living Things (3:05)
9. 10 AM Automatic - The Black Keys (2:59)

Sit, Run, Jump, Climb @ #3 :: 45 seconds :: x4 = 12 minutes

10. Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa - Vampire Weekend (3:35) Recover to 65% HR, Maintain

Remind students that this is when they become physically exhausted and must rely on their mental strength to finish the ride feeling victorious.

***

Heavy Hill (60 RPM; 85% HR)
11. Sympathy for the Devil (Neptunes Remix) (5:54) - Cadence check
12. Bittersweet Symphony - The Verve (5:57)

Sit, Run, Jump, Climb @ #3 :: 1 minute :: x3 = 12 minutes

Ask students to close their eyes, focus on the hill, and find the balance between their body, their breath, and their bike.

***

Congratulate students on a great job. Remind them to breathe deeply, taking in the positive and letting go the negative. Give students two minutes to themselves, then continue stretching on bike.

13. Back to the Earth - Rusted Root (5:48) Cool down
14. Shine - Alcorus (3:54) Stretch
15. Make You Feel My Love - ADELE (3:32) Stretch

Resolutions for 2009

1. Take a multivitamin.
This is one of the easiest things I can do for my overall health that I have never taken the time to do. I bought a gel cap for easy digestibility.

2. Mean it.
Say what I mean and mean what I say. Communicate. Laugh, live, love and share it. Pay attention, make eye contact, and empathize. Don't merely do it, be there. Enjoy the moment. Every moment. I aim to become more real, thus fostering more real relationships.

3. Slow down & focus.
I want to slow down and focus, using yoga practice and meditative breathing exercises. I want to take this year and nurture my inner self. In preparation, late last year I converted the guest bedroom into a space just for me. This morning was my first yoga practice in the new space. It was beautiful.

4. Lose those last stubborn 10 lbs.
This one has been on my list for a couple years, but now I have a plan:

::Workout ::
Mon - Spinning, Ballet
Tues - Chest & Bi's, Modern
Wed - Spinning (teach x2)
Thurs - Legs and Shoulders, Stretching
Fri - Spinning, Yoga
Sat - Back & Tri's, Lyrical
Sun - Rest

::Diet::
Water. Plenty of whole grains. Low fat dairy. Chicken and fish. Lots of veggies and fruits. Nothing after 730p (The hard part!). Cut alcohol. Cup of hot green tea every night.

5. 365 Days.
The Challenge: Take one self portrait each day for a year. This will be my second 365 Day Challege. My first was January 1-December 31, 2007.

6. Blog.
I have been wanting to write more and creating this blog gives me an outlet that I, a total Type A, cannot ignore.

Chicken & Sausage Gumbo

Ingredients
Louisiana Fish Fry Products Cajun Gumbo Mix or Savoie's Old Fashioned Roux
64oz Kitchen Basics vegetable broth
1/2 sweet yellow onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
4 celery, chopped
2 tbs garlic, minced
3 c. okra, chopped
2 15oz cans diced tomatoes, drained
1 rotisserie chicken
1 lb sausage, Andouille or Chorizo (for healthier alternative, use turkey)
2-3 c. cooked brown rice
Tabasco, to taste
French bread

Directions
1. Using a large pot, follow package directions for chosen roux.
2. Brown sausage in large skillet on medium heat.
3. Add onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic, okra, and tomatoes to pot. Bring to boil. Simmer 20 minutes.
4. Start rice.
5. Remove chicken from bones. Chop.
6. Add sausage and chicken to pot. Return to boil. Simmer 20 minutes.
7. Serve over rice with French bread.

Top 25 Songs of 2008

Alphabetical by Artist

1. ADELE - Hometown Glory
ADELE sings with heartfelt nostalgia. This song makes me long for city-life. Her self-titled debut features two other must have's: Right as Rain and Make You Feel My Love.

2. The Airborne Toxic Event - Sometime Around Midnight
Instant classic, starting soft and slow and building to complete passion. Everyone’s been driven crazy by love you can't have. From their self-titled studio album released summer 2008.

3. The Asteroids Galaxy - Around the Bend
Made popular by an iPhone commercial, this little ditty is catchy as hell. Great for driving.

4. The Black Ghosts - Full Moon
From the motion picture soundtrack to Twilight (first movie from the book series by Stephenie Meyer), this song is a total throwback to the 60s Folk sound.

5. The Bravery - Believe (Moon Version)
The driving beat and heavy guitar mix well with the lead singers not too emo-kid, emo-kid vocals. The other must-have off The Sun and The Moon Complete? This is Not the End (Moon Version).

6. Coconut Records – Nighttiming
Jason Schwartzman’s solo project, Coconut Records. This song is just plain fun. Also get West Coast.

7. Coldplay – Lost!
I admit, I was so not about the hype of Coldplay’s much anticipated 2008 release, and Viva la Vida is still my least favorite song on the album. Still, this iis one of my top albums of the year simply for its start to finish playability. Other greats to get include Strawberry Swing, Violet Hill, Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love.

8. Death Cab for Cutie – I Will Possess Your Heart
Not the radio edit. This 8 minute trek starts with a great bass line and builds instrument by instrument until finally the vocals round it out. A super great running song. From the album, Narrow Stairs.

9. Elbow - Grounds for Divorce
Probably the most overlooked electro-rock band out there, Elbow does it again with their 4th studio album, The Seldom Seen Kid. I love this song. Other greats off this album include One Day Like This and The Bones of You.

10. Estelle – Pretty Please (Love Me) [feat. Cee-lo]
This song makes me want to roller skate. A total throwback to the 60s Motown sound. From the album, Shine.

11. Flobots – Handlebars
Another great song that builds to a fury using a steady beat and smooth, catchy lyrics. Fight with Tools was released late 2007. This single became one of my summer anthems.

12. Gnarls Barkley – Run
I recently saw this band on Austin City Limits and fell even more in love with them than I already was. Another great running or driving song. From the second studio album, The Odd Couple.

13. The Kings of Leon – Crawl
KoL’s 4th studio album, Only by the Night, rocks harder than previous releases and is also in my list of top albums of the year. Caleb Followill’s voice is haunting. Other must-haves? Closer and Sex on Fire.

14. Lady Gaga – Just Dance [feat. Colby O'Donis]
What list would be complete without at least one gratuitous Top 40 club tune?

15. MGMT – Electric Feel
Picture this – top down, cruising the strip with the sun glinting off the Gulf of Mexico. This song has summer written all over it.

16. N.E.R.D – My Drive Thru
Featuring Santogold, this song is pure funk wonderfullness.

17. Pop Levi – Never Never Love
Vocoder-tastic.

18. The Racontours – Top Yourself
Their second studio album, Consolers of the Lonely, is another of my top albums of the year. I like this song best because of its front porch acoustic feel. Other greats off the album include Solute Your Solution, You Don’t Understand Me, Many Shades of Black, and Carolina Drama.

19. The Rapture – No Sex for Ben
This one comes from the soundtrack to Grand Theft Auto IV. Great for game play and real life.

20. Rogue Wave – Chicago x 12
Asleep at Heaven’s Gate dropped late 2007. This single is beautiful. It makes me feel nostalgic.

21. Santogold – Shove It [feat. Spank Rock]
This song jams like M.I.A. Other must-haves off her self-titled debut include L.E.S. Artistes and Lights Out.

22. She & Him – Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?
Actress Zooey Deschanel and musician M. Ward team up here and, sadly, this is the only song I like off their debut, Volume One. This one is a total throwback to the 60s Doo-wop sound.

23. The Ting Tings – That’s Not My Name
A great indie-pop duo hand picked from Coachella Music Festival by Apple Inc. Their debut album, We Started Nothing, is another on my list of top albums of the year. Also get: Great DJ, Fruit Machine, Shut Up and Let Me Go, and We Started Nothing. I love this song best because of the controlled cacophony of looping instruments and vocals.

24. Vampire Weekend – Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa
Total throwback to Paul Simon’s Graceland, this tune is a must have. Their self-titled debut album is awesome from start to finish, putting it on my list of top albums of the year.

25. Wojahn Brothers – Oh No You Didn't! (Mercenaries 2 Anthem)
Brilliant. Creative. Incredibly catchy.