2011

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
I moved out to an apartment with my best friend and boyfriend -- and paid for all of it myself. I was a bridesmaid in Julie Morgan's wedding and might have found a good Disney Career path therein. Stephen and I attended a fabulous gay wedding in Big Sur. I helped open Chapter One: the modern local (a concept restaurant in downtown Santa Ana) and helped it flourish into OC Weekly's Best New Restaurant of 2011. Got a Brazilian, heeey TMI. I started feeling old -- aches and back issues and sore, tired muscles... It could certainly be the twelve hour work days or Napa Rose's slate flooring, but ugggh. I made more than one trip to a chiropractor this year. I made cranberry-lime vodka infusions as Christmas gifts and plan to continue making infusions as a new Christmas tradition. I drove stick shift -- 35 feet, but hey. Had an unexpected health scare and am still waiting to hear the results...

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
These were the resolutions I made last year, needless to say I kept none of them:

• Take a self-portrait every day for 365 days.
• Document my life a bit better.
• Read at least two books a month.
• Make more art.
• Get back into the exercise routine I had going.

I did, however, move out to the Avalon Anaheim Stadium apartments with Megan. Stephen joined us a month in, though he did all the heavy lifting as I moved in and was practically there from the beginning. Together we attempted to make a budget though it only ever lasted a week or two. It's hard to try and start a budget when you're already so far in the hole. One of my primary goals for this year is to get my finances back on track, however many Ramen dinners it takes.

Other goals include:

• Lose 50lbs -- get my BMI to an ideal range (18.5-24.9)
• Get out of Napa Rose by February (latest) -- waiting to see if that $3,000 pops up anywhere
• Do a weekly "Things that are Good" list -- works for better life documentation and keeping myself humbled and grateful
• Start The Artist's Way
• Read a book/month
• Actually work at maintaining friendships (Chelsea Hansen, Jeff Warta, Brittany Donlon, etc.)

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Anthony & Dani Ippolito- Aubriana (Bri)

4. Did anyone close to you die?
An acquaintance from middle school, Alex Proctor.

5. What countries did you visit?
No new countries, but I took Stephen on a craft-brewery-filled birthday trip to Portland, Oregon for his birthday.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
A gym schedule, home cooked meals. I'd like more projects to work on, actually. Genuine weekends. Level I Cicerone certification.

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Nothing is standing out at the moment, need to document better.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Not having a show-down and not giving up on anyone. Really good conversations with my parents, Ethan and Stephen. "Making Magic" at Julie's wedding. Getting back in the good graces of Napa management.

9. What was your biggest failure?
That it came close.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had a root canal which wasn't nearly as bad as I had expected. Tenderness for a week or so, but not miserable. Lots of weird headaches this year and a sore, sore back.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Railroad Revival concert tickets, a weekend at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. French manicures.The first cocktail for the married Morgans!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Linda Rodriguez, Stephen Langton, Eric Quezada.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Megan Rabone

16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
Sia - Soon We'll Be Found
Wax Tailor - Que Sera
Amy Winehouse - Valerie

LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem
Adele - Rolling in the Deep
Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks

WUBWUBWUBreeeeeeeeeeeee (Skrillex)
Chapter One's Euro-Trance Pandora Station

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Hard to say, but very happy. Aiming for consistency. 
b) thinner or fatter? Yikes, fatter. I have to get this under control. Being healthy is not hard.
c) richer or poorer? Poorer, but working on that.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Exercising, eating well, reading, making art. Shopping for food at Farmer's Markets.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Drinking soda. Letting people intimidate me. Speaking before thinking something all the way through: slow your roll.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
At Grandma's house in Ohio, then on a cross-country plane ride. Got home and opened gifts with the family, cleaned up and went to the Boviches for dinner. Ended up at Stephen's parents' and collapsed into bed back at the apartment!

21. Did you fall in love in 2011?
Absolutely.

22. How many one-night stands?
None.

23. What was your favorite TV program?
No cable this year, but still kept up with Gossip Girl, Glee and SNL. I wish they weren't pulling Community off the air.

24. What was the best book you read?
The Four Hour Body, Things I Wish I'd Known Before We Got Married.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Obsessed with The Avett Brothers this year.

26. What did you want and get?
A spark of direction. Some good Disney opportunities.

27. What did you want and not get?
Out of Napa, a real job. I would love to go to Vegas with Stephen.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Bridesmaids. Crazy Stupid Love.

29. What did you do on your birthday?
Got my nails done with Mom, grabbed some Pedro's and drove around south-side San Clemente in the convertible (Mom got a white Audi convertible, her dream car, for my parents' anniversary last year), met Sean, Matt, Zack, Brett, Ethan, Mom, Dad, Harrison, Beck, Pit Boy, Jeff and Cassie at Pizza Port and had everyone over for cake and beer. Brett and Chris came to the house. Ethan made me a flaming birthday cake complete with unicorns and waterfalls. He wants his to have Ewoks, dinosaurs and Decepticons.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Less anxiety about the future.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Jeans. Sweatshirts. Work clothes.

33. What kept you sane?
Stephen, baking, Tumblr. Moleskine notebooks.

37. What political issue stirred you the most?
Occupy Wall Street, censoring the internet.

36. Who did you miss?
Ethan, Chelsea Hansen. Brittany Donlon.The News Team.

37. Who was the best new person you met?
Linda Rodriquez, Alicia Jeva, Ryan Matas, Linsey Onken, Jeff Hall, Tim O'Connor, Jesse Ledin & Dustin Robinson, Bonnie.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011?
Hash out details upfront and have everyone affected sign off on the arrangement. I never eat the whole container of spinach before it goes bad, buy the small bag already.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
 "For I am an engine and I'm rolling on
through endless revisions to state what I mean..." - Engine, NMH