I did a lot in 2011. More than I thought I would, or that I even think I did when casually thinking about it. In general, 2011 stands out as the first full adult year of my life, spent going to the same place to do the same thing almost every day. And that sounds boring and awful, because at least 2010 had some extended periods of unemployment to break it up. But surely I did more than that right? I saw Slick Rick look bored and tired at Brooklyn Bowl. I walked a mile in freezing rain to go to my boss’s grandson’s bris. In a moment of uncharacteristic hypochondria, I thought I might have had diabetes for half a month. I went to a few book readings and more than a few free happy hours. I got drunk. Very drunk. I passed out on my couch and gave my roommate too many opportunities to take pictures of me as he woke me up. I tried to swat his camera away. I saw The Boxer Rebellion, Theophilus London, The National (twice), and a few friends’ bands. I saw Doomtree and reverted into a fanboy, asking for their autographs. I spent federal holidays in Rumson, NJ, and Milford, CT. I went to Atlantic City for the price of a bus ticket. I managed to not gamble a cent. I spent a weekend in Rockland County, NY sitting by a pool despite clouds and rain. I took a road trip to Chicago to go to Lollapoolza. We got rained on and I had to throw away my shoes. I ran into my other roommate on my way home from a bar on a Wednesday during a snow storm and we videotaped ourselves jumping into snow banks and sliding over cars at 1 in the morning. I went to the zoo and a book festival. I had a cyst removed from my lip. I went to Cape Cod to celebrate a good friend’s impending wedding. I went to Cincinnati for said wedding. I’m still a little bitter about how high the bar for fun has been set by those two weekends. I went to Hackettstown, NJ and spent too long in a hot tub. I went to Smithtown, NY and helped convert a pickup truck into a pool. I was driven around in said pool, and then played many rounds of badminton. I lost more games of foosball than I won, but probably broke even on pool and shuffleboard. I went to a few museums. I went snowboarding once, and then won a free snowboard. I went to a pie baking contest. I put this blog off to focus on poetry. I got solicited to contribute a piece to a journal. I met a lot of great writers. I read more books but listened to less music compared to 2010. I saw more movies, and was disappointed by just about every one that I paid for, especially those in 3-D. I saw Drive twice in a week, and make a lot of jokes about watching it more, but really there’s a good amount of sincerity behind them. I really liked that movie. I saw Fuerze Bruta. I stayed in the Algonquin. I got a bonus and two raises. I probably drank my weight in bourbon several times over. I went to the gym a lot, then didn’t, then did, then didn’t, then did, then didn’t. I’m going to try and be more consistent with that. I hosted my family and finally shared a drink with my brother in honor of his 21st birthday, 13 months after the fact. I went home for Christmas and saw a lot of friends I miss. I took a red eye back and came in late to work for the first time since I overslept on my weekend shift at Hillel first semester senior year. I went to Smithtown, NY again for New Years Eve and started 2012 feeling pretty damn good about it.

I’m forgetting things. Karaoke. More brunches than I ever thought I’d go to. A lot of great home-cooked meals by myself and others. Flea markets. Parks. Food festivals and art festivals. Weekends spent mostly in lounge-mode. Having to stop reading news sites because they make too angry. Having to stop reading UCLA sports sites because they make me too sad. Worrying about money. Tricking myself into thinking I have less money than I do. Still worrying about money. Always. Hating it. Always. Failing on my coffee cutback resolution of 2010. Whatever. Caving to the iPhone like a hypocrite. Whatever.

Richard Yates’ “Revolutionary Road” was the hardest book to read because I felt a little devastated by it the entire time. Oscar Wilde’s “A Picture of Dorian Gray” was the hardest book to read because I hated it. Lyn Hejinian’s “The Cell” was the hardest book to read because I wish I wrote it. Leslie Marmon Silko’s “Almanac of the Dead” was the hardest book to read because it’s big and awkward to read on the subway. It’s the only book I didn’t finish. I also read a bunch of great chapbooks from friends and acquaintances. They’re a talented bunch, and I’m grateful to know them.

I enjoyed M83’s “Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming,” Thrice’s “Major/Minor,” Portugal. The Man’s “In The Mountain In The Cold,” The Joy Formidable’s “The Big Roar,” Young Widows' "In and Out of Youth and Light," Glassjaw's two EPs, and Tycho’s “Dive” more than most albums that came out this year. Wye Oak, Weatherbox, Doomtree, Dessa, Youth Lagoon, Fucked Up, The Horrible Crowes, Blink 182, Russian Circles, Wilco, Washed Out, The Roots, Mogwai, Amon Tobin, Tim Hecker, Pusha T, James Blake, The Boxer Rebellion, Maritime, AraabMusik, Animals As Leaders, TV On The Radio, My Morning Jacket, The Dangerous Summer, and Active Child all put out great albums, too. Bon Iver’s album was a wonderful surprise, and I’m willing to say I’m a Bon Iver fan despite hating his first album. Beyonce’s album was a happy accident, and feel bad that it seems like the consensus is that people don’t like it. Give it a listen, maybe you’ll be as surprised as I was. I was disappointed by Tyler, The Creator, Jay-Z/Kanye, Saves The Day, and Transit, but “Yonkers,” “Otis,” “Daybreak,” and “You Can’t Miss It” (all respective) are still in regular rotation. I was more disappointed by This Will Destroy You and Justice, but maybe I need to give them more time. All this being said, Reptar is the band of the year.

I’m still forgetting things, but I suppose that’s better than being able to remember it all.