Trying to make this shit happen

1. Start on and finish a book I got back in November:

2. Cut back, but not completely cut out, on this:

and since I'm at it, cut back on this, too:

3. Spend more time with these ladies:

Also, spend more time with my friends. We work so much, live fairly close to each other, and still don't hang out as often as we should.

4. Spend money on mini trips and not on shoes.

5. Be a better S.O. for this guy:

6.  Stop saying that everything sucks, because it really doesn't.

Everything has to come to an end

Since everyone is doing this, here's my best of for 2011:

Best (sweetest) thing I heard someone say:

"Hold on to me, my love"--an elderly man saying this to his wife who could barely walk.

Best creepy moment:

Getting scammed into checking this place out

I swear to this day that we were being watched by Tom Cruise the entire time and that we were going to die a horrible, horrible death.

Best road trip:

We drank, we head banged, we conquered at Scion Metal Fest 2011 in Pomona, CA. 

Best "I need to start using ear plugs now" moment:

My ears wanted to bleed after Neurosis was done with their set.

Best purchase:

It's a tie between car insurance and my new Marc by Marc Jacobs purse.

(And just to throw it in there, worst purchase was those black Onitsuka Tiger shoes I bought on Black Friday. They're basically overpriced shoes made out of recycled cardboard.)

Best date with the Bearded Man

Our day in SF.

Best FUCK YEAH! I'M SO EXCITED!!! moment:

Watching, listening to Henry Rollins interview Dinosaur Jr. and then seeing Dinosaur Jr. play so loud they rival Neurosis.

Also, getting hired at my internship, and then a week later my mom got hired at her job after being unemployed for almost 2 years. 

Best anything:

Every other day that I didn't mention. The days where I all I did was go to work, come home, go out, eat food, drink beers, read, window-shop, run errands, make horrible jokes, go on bike rides, make plans but never follow through cause all of the above goes on instead, start on and sometimes finish projects, and watch tv.

I think 2011 was a pretty damn good year. 

My first

Homemade pizza!

I don't think I can ever go back to ordering pizza again...well, maybe if it's from Pizza & Curry. I had told myself earlier in the year that I wanted to attempt to make a pizza. Off to Trader Joe's it was to get the ingredients:

Pre-made pizza dough

pesto sauce

mozzarella

chopped pancetta

sliced Roma tomatoes

Assemble it any way you want, stick in in the oven at 400 for 15 minutes and there it is!

Just add your favorite beer.

FINALLY!

I finally saw the man, whose pose partly inspired the name of this blog, in person last night. You can read all the details of the night here. 

I'm still kicking myself in the ass for not bringing along the camera for the show. But it's okay, because in March, I will have another opportunity to see him again.

I was soooooo giddy!

BOYCOTT AMERICAN LICORICE

This past Monday, workers at American Licorice went on strike. All they're asking for is fair health care benefits, and in return the company wants to get rid of the union altogether. Bearded Man's mom has been working for this company for some 20 plus years and she's one of the people on strike. These are very confusing times, we work so hard at our jobs only to be told they want to get rid of you, that there's no money, that health care is too expensive. What the hell's going on in this country? Today we got a chance to go out there and join in on the strike. It truly was a family affair, people brought their kids and grandchildren. We were all there to support the people we love and who work so hard.

Bearded Man supporting his mommy.

Bearded Man's mommy, Hilda, has been working for this company for the last 20 years. 

This little girl was supporting her grandma. It was sweet.

Nora was supporting her mommy too.

Some of the American Licorice workers.

Our shift was over. Bearded Man decided to pose next to the Christmas tree the workers on strike had set up this week. 

Next time you go the movies, say no to red vines or sour punch straws. This company wants to get rid of their union workers, these people have families to take care of. 

I've been in my head too much

1. The holidays are here again, another year has gone by.
2. I'm afraid of making plans, but there a lot of good things in store for 2012.
3. Health Science
4. Why am I always so tired now?
5. In a fit of rage, I got rid of all my pending DIY projects and now I have to start from scratch again.
6. My bills have gotten paid on time now that I rarely leave the house.
7. I need to get out of the house more.
8. I need to spend more time with my sisters.
9. I need to spend less time thinking about things have happened or that never will happen.
10. Where do I begin with planning a wedding?
11. Stop thinking about my own mortality.
12. Start working out again.
13. Really, do #12, don't just say it.
14. My jokes really aren't funny.
15. Find 2 ugly christmas sweaters.

I need to get back in tune with the rest of the world.

The closest portrayal of a typical Thanksgiving

Roseanne is a favorite show of mine. Sometimes I feel like my life is one big Roseanne episode. Anytime they show a rerun of the Thanksgiving episodes on tv, it's like watching my own family's Thanksgiving day take place from beginning to end.
I would write more but I have stuffing/dressing, whatever the fuck you call it, to make.

Things I'm thankful for (and really, why can't we reflect on what we're thankful for every single day and not just on this one holiday?):
The Bearded Man, our families, having a job, a place to live, a bed to sleep on, shoes for my feet, food to eat. Simple things.

Enjoy today!

House shows are my favorite kind of show

This is usually Bearded Man's deal, you can check out his "show propaganda" blog here, but I want to share too. I really like house shows, but when it's a new place, I kind of feel weird showing up to a stranger's house to see a show. However, this time around, it was different. Do you ever just walk into a place and instantly feel at home even though you don't know anyone there? I felt like that last night when we went to go see Big Kids (the only familiar faces) play at a house in San Jose. I didn't feel weird for standing in a stranger's living room this time around. Later on in the night, I actually met and talked to one of the people who lived there and I was amazed to find out that this had been the first show they'd had at their house. We missed Joyride because of some parking space-finding issues. Damn you SJ and your strict parking enforcement laws! But we managed to make in time to see Acid Fast, I'd only listen to a few of their songs before, but they quickly became a new favorite band to listen to. And also, there's a girl in the band, so extra points for girl power in punk music. Big Kids never disappoints me, and I'm glad I saw them play again.

Now, after Big Kids played, I was confused at who the last band was. I thought it was Sourpatch, but Bearded Man said it was Big Eyes. I could have sworn I head the singer of the "last" band of the night had said they were Sourpatch. The cops ended up shutting the place down around 11 o'clock and the last band that was supposed to play never got to. I'll find out who that mystery band is on Sunday when I go and see almost all the same bands play at Gilman. It's going to be a pop punk party all weekend long.
Bands that played last night and you should listen to (if you'd like, if not, you're missing out):
Big Kids
Acid Fast
Big Eyes
Sourpatch
Joyride

A girl jumping rope

I got a tattoo six years after getting my first one today. After who knows how many ideas I had in mind, I finally just decided to go for it and get a new tattoo. This one is very special to me because my younger sister, Magaly, was the one who drew out exactly what I had in mind. Thank you, Magaly! Your artwork is forever going to be on my body and thank you to Josh at Wicked Artistry for tattooing it! And yes, I was nervous. Six years, people! I'd forgotten what getting a tattoo felt like.

All photos were taken by Bearded Man.

Life of a night owl

More and more I find myself watching TV alone late at night because Bearded Man goes to work early in the morning, so he's usually out by 10:30 on most nights, what else am I supposed to do? I've tried going to sleep when he does but it does not work for me!
As I've mentioned before, I really really love watching TV.  Especially when it includes shows that gives me an inside look of people looking for and/or buying a house, people buying fixer-upper homes and remodeling them (I'm so jealous of people on this show because I want a fixer-upper, but that's another post for another time), and shows about remodeling bathrooms, kitchens, and back yards. I change the channel when it's a show about remodeling a basement, houses in California rarely have basements, so I really don't care for those episodes.
HGTV must be keeping track of what shows I watch the most because they give me hours-long marathon of House Hunters, Property Brothers, and Bath/Yard Crashers that I crave for this time of night.

People are looking for a house to buy, they're shown 3 houses, and then they choose which one they liked best or had the best price. My only reservation with this show is when they have this childless couple or a couple with only one child and they want like a 4 fucking bedroom home. Why do you need so many rooms for a family of three? Oh, you want more children? Oh, you want your child to have a separate room for their toys? Blah blah blah, first world problems. Either way, I can't stop watching. I like looking at houses, except for track homes. Those suck ass.

They're twins! One is a real estate agent who shows you your dream home but then tells you can't afford it. But don't worry, he's going to show you what you can afford, a fixer-upper home. Usually the buyer is a whiner who just wants a move-in ready home, doesn't want to deal with renovations, and other shit "too much to do, so little time." That's when real estate agent guy brings in his twin brother who's a contractor and shows the whiney buyer that buying a fixer-upper home isn't such a bad thing. It gives the buyer the opportunity to fix their house the way they want to, given if they budget correctly. All the homes turn out to be wonderful and so much better than the model dream homes they wanted in the first place. I'm so jealous of them. I would like a fixer-upper of my own one day. Baby steps. In about five years, I'll be calling you, Property Brothers!

First of all, I cannot stand the hosts of these shows, they're annoying. If one of them came up to me while I was shopping at Home Depot or Lowe's, I'd say no to their offer of fixing up my bathroom or yard in two days as well, just like half of the people they scout at the beginning of the show. Other than that, I really like the outcome of the renovations at the end. It's just a shame you'd have to spend two days with those annoying hosts.

Ooooh, House Hunters International is on! Yay!

Bands I listen to on a regular basis

At the Drive-In

Kylesa

Majority Rule and this album in particular

Black Tambourine

Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins (not a band, but still)

Black Flag

There are a ton of bands and almost 8000+ songs on my ipod but these are the go-to bands I listen to when I can't decide on what to listen to. It's so easy to just go to one of these bands and sing (or scream) along to all of their songs that I already know by heart. Sure it's good to discover new music, but these bands are comforting to my ears. You know you have your own go-to bands!

Do what makes you feel better

Boo colds!

Here are my go-to remedies to get better because I don't want to call-in sick to work:

PLUS

PLUS

PLUS a hot shower, laying down, watching TV, and I guess, blogging about it. 

Hope none of you get sick!