A media heavy look at 2006

Barring anything bizarre happening in the next few days, me taking a trip in the next few days or me falling in love with a new song in the next few days, I'll say we can call 2006 a wrap.

 

An OK year overall. Saw a few friends get married. Took lots of trips. Saw a ton of concerts. Fell in love with a few songs that were new, and some that were old took on a whole new meeting.

Got hooked on xylophone heavy songs and renewed my obsession with xylophones:

 

 

The personal

I think that I managed to grow some this year as a person. At the least, I worked on some aspects of my personality.

I managed to drink so much I vomited exactly one time. Shortly thereafter, I decided I couldn't drink like a 21-year-old anymore.

I managed to get in exactly one major confrontation with someone, but it's since blown over, fortunately.

I went on several dates. I had a summer boyfriend. We split amicably and are still buddies. I had a fall boyfriend, and he's still my boyfriend, so he gets to be a winter boyfriend, too. We get along fantastically and I always have a lot of fun with him. He is becoming my confidant and he puts up with my occasional cranky moods. We spend a lot of time talking about everything and we laugh until our stomachs hurt.

I made a few new friends this year and strengthened bonds that I already had.

I acted like my normal pain-in-the-ass self:

 

 

April and I went out a lot and had tons of fun:

 

Mel and I continued our normal antics:

 

And I got to know Joanna better, and in the past few months, she and i have been giggling and acting girly together:

 

I also had lots of laughs with Gregory, Nic, Aaron, Joe Mike and a host of others.

 

The trips

Went a lot of places this year. And managed to secure a passport, so watch for me to go to even more exciting places next year.

In March, I went to LA for a few days, where I spent too much at Amoeba Records, ate some fantastic food, bought some vintage bowling shirts, went to the beach, tried to coerce Nic into winning a Reggie doll for me out of the "claw" machine, stayed at the Beverly Laurel and ate at the restaurant where Sharon Tate had her last  meal. OooOooo.

In April, made my annual trip to Indio, Calif. More on that in a bit.

In May, went to Tucson to see Ed, Kelly and Josie. Had a good time on my whirlwind trip. Got carded for beer a lot. Stayed at a Days Inn Ed told me would be OK, then quickly realized I might get killed. Live dangerously and all.

Here's Ed and I in Tucson:

 

In June, made a road trip to Utah, but that wasn't that exciting. In August, went to Naples, Fla., with my then-beau to go to a wedding. Had a nice time, except for getting the dreaded summer cold, which made me miserable most of the time.

In October, went to New York for nine glorious days. Had so much fun, I was ready to just cancel the ticket home, except for the obvious fact I didn't have a place to live nor a place to work. Mastered the subway, saw lots of famous things, bought lots of fun toys. Ain't nothing like "Autumn in New York."

 

 

The concerts

Saw a lot of them this year. Saw Motorhead. Saw X. Saw the Cramps and Joan Jett and Peaches and Eagles of Death Metal. Saw Brian Jonestown Massacre, where, unbeknownst to me, my future beau was standing right in front of me. (He remembers. I do not). Saw the Buzzcocks, countless local bands and Zappa Plays Zappa.

Part of my LA trip in March consisted of going to see the New Pornographers and Belle and Sebastian at the Wiltern. And my future beau was at that show, too. No, we didn't see each other. At least we don't think we did.

For my annual pilgrimage to Coachella in April, I had quite the fine time. The lineup probably has never been as strong as it was when I first went, in 2004, but the experience just gets better and better. This year, had my socks rocked by Damien Marley. Got in the front row for Dungen and Art Brut, who were the concert of the festival. Got a good view of Depeche Mode. Was awed by My Morning Jacket, Cat Power and Bloc Party. Saw my friends Jason and Dott during Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Laid in the grass with Ed, exhausted and eating pizza as the sun went down and Mogwai played. Almost passed out during Wolf Parade. Skipped Madonna and watched Editors instead. Danced like fools to Daft Punk. Can't wait for '07.

While in Tucson in May, went with Ed, Kelly and Josie to see fantabulous singer-songwriter John Vanderslice. After the show, got to talk to John. Once I told him I came all the way from Vegas, he gave me a big hug and told me had I caught him before the show, he would've played whatever I wanted:

 

 

While in New York, I was fortunate enough to see the Dictators live, two nights before CBGB's closed forever. Just to be in that club and soaking up the history was enough for me. To see the Dictators live in the same venue where Jayne County once kicked Handsome Dick Manitoba's ass gave me chills. Going to that nasty restroom and walking down that nasty stairway left me in awe thinking of all who had been down those stairs before. Seriously, just sitting there staring at the bar was a profound experience. It seriously made my year. I am so happy I got to experience that, and grateful to Gregory for giving me something every little punk rock girl should have.

 

At the end of October, got to go to my home-grown music festival, Vegoose. Sure, I worked for some of it, but overall, it was a blast. Had the Roots leave me in awe. Saw Cat Power again. Built to Spill. Tom Petty. Mars Volta. Ben Folds, whom I've never had the chance to see. Got to see the Killers do one song, which was plenty. Got to see Damian Marley yet again. Got to be annoyed by hippies wanting to see Widespread Panic:

 

The songs

Had a lot of songs rock me this year. Had a lot of songs that, when i hear in the future, I'll say "Oh. Yes."

Will never hear Jonathan Richman's "Here Comes the Martian Martians" without thinking of me and Joe Mike dancing like absolute idiots at the Double Down:

 

I will never hear Brian Eno's "Baby on Fire" without, once again, thinking of me and Joe Mike dancing to it. And fighting Aaron over it for rights to use it on our respective MySpace pages. Yes, we are 15.

I have always liked Magnetic Fields, but they really became the band for me this year. I really couldn't stop listening to them. Their entire "69 Love Songs" set helped cheer me up, and I was touched by the beauty of " With Whom to Dance."

 

While I still maintained my punk-rock standards this year, I did move into a little mellower tastes. These three songs were some of my favorites this year.

 

 

 

And lastly, I just found this song a few weeks ago, and I instantly fell in love with it. I don't have a great version of it, but this will give you an idea:

 

 

And that's the highlights of 2006. I'll spare you any tales of tears, hurt feelings, disappointments, etc. These are the happy times of '06, which outweighed the bad.