Baja Here We Come

See you there, Jesus. Can't wait to end 2009 in style.

(image via partlytruthpartlyfiction)

Happy Winter Solstice

Bet you wish you had one of these to keep you warm!

Bye Bye '09 -- Another Sheer Year

2009 was pretty sheer. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being stellar), I'd rate this year somewhere around a 6. Thank goodness I have awesome friends+family+dear people in my sheerniverse that helped me survive the trash. In my life, the only year that was more retarded was 2006. Fuck 2006.

Go ahead, think for a moment about this year: there was a plethora of celebrity deaths, creepy sicknesses, crappy jobs (or lack thereof), and just plain uninsured/unemployed stressful nonsense. MJ died, for God's sake. I have no doubt that 2010 will be much better (if only because Jacko can't die again in 2010). If it does in fact get any worse I might make like R. Branson and move to outer space.

But '09 wasn't that bad. In fact, scrolling through my photos, there are more than a few delightful memories. From a boat named the "Shearwater" to a mystery trip to Jamaica, front row seats at the Maury show to a rowdy family vacay with the love of my life, here are 12 highlights from my year in sheer trash:

January - Winter Hike with Lola



February - Wild Teens on Maury



March -- Britney Spears' Circus Tour (in Newark, NJ, No Less)



April - Hanging out in the Shire



May - Paris in the Spring



June - Field Trip to Chester, NJ



July - The S.S. Shearwater



August - Fire Island



September - Autumn Commences




October - Thrillist's JetMystery



November - Hayden Hatteras Trip



December - Lola and Her Mini Tree

My Top Ten Animal Videos of 2009

I've finished the most amazing assignment ever: a countdown of the best animal videos from this year. Jenny the Stroller Pug, Orgasm Turtle, Tickling Slow Loris -- they're all there for your viewing pleasure. So click over to Paw Nation for the full list and each video.

Seriously, if only life were always this fun!

I Wish This Was Real

After all, it's not that far-fetched. And I do wonder what X-mas is like at the Haus of Gaga....

(via Landline TV)

UPDATE: Apparently it IS REAL -- via my Buzzfeed post, I was directed to this Amazon link and Lady Gaga's "Christmas Tree." YOWZAH!

Pan and James

Alright, so this is a thing. A thing in Japan. And because the Japanese tend to get super weird with their animals, I can't say I wasn't expecting a show about a chimp and a bulldog BFF duo who "complete human tasks" to be anything less than nonsequitor amazingness. And the proof is in the puddin'.

After doing more research (a.k.a. looking at a Wikipedia entry) on Pan and James, I discovered that they're featured on a television show called "Tensai! Shimura Dōbutsuen" ("天才！志村動物園", lit. "Genius! Shimura Zoo"). The "Pan and James Running Errands" episode is often cited as their finest work. But that's BS, since "Pan with James' Babies" is clearly the cutest thing ever.

Zany language and cultural barriers aside, these two take my emotional cake for today.

Surprised Kitten #2

Thank goodness this is becoming a trend!

Looks like surprised kitties are all over the place, and according to some experts the tiny-cutie-jazz-hands-freak-outs are "a normal postural play response." After the kind of week I've been having, this is fantastic news. If you find any more clips of 'em, send my way, because I need warm fuzzy things in my face more than ever.

(via Gothamist)

The Shout Out Louds Are Coming (Back)

After a hiatus in 2009, one of my fave Scandinavian indie sensations will be returning with a new LP in February. The Shout Out Louds fill the void somewhere between The Cure, Stars, and borderline terrible emo-pop – and I love it.

Here’s the video for “Walls,” c/o Merge Records.

Blame it on the An-An-An-Ani-Animals

Hello, you sexy world!

There's an exciting development in the Sheer!niverse: I've begun blogging for PawNation.com. This means a new place for me to funnel my fervent love for fuzzy bunnies/animals that look like Lola, my Great Pyrenees/tiny kittens/helpless creatures/Shetland Ponies/dogs in general et al. So far I've written pieces about Operation Migration, Twitter for Animal Lovers and the Cutest Dog Competition outcome (que scandal!!!).

You can subscribe to my posts here -- but only if you are prepared for the most important content EVER, buddy.