Remembering Diner House M

M Bar was perhaps one of my favorite bars. I remember how every time we went there was always something to "put in the movie" as Taylor and I would say."To put in the movie" of course, became a line we'd say to each other when something happened that was so bizarre and cinematic, it would of course have to be added to our ever growing screenplay we needed to write (but never wrote). 

From a young woman we once met who described in detail how we would be the perfect leads in a wacky rom-com, a choice character description for me "I mean you fuck around, but you don't fuck around", to a young man busting into the ladies powder room to do a line like it was nbd, to dancing to Kelly Rowland's Motivation or the first time. So cheers to summer and that mother fucking white couch, mirrored, minor serving, LA den. 

I feel like I'm at an interesting point in my life where I have to actually have a shard of self awareness to move forward, while at the same time feel betrayed by myself because; who was I trying to be for the last twenty three years? I always thought college was the time to discover who you are, and not come out the other end feeling like your life is a really tangled silver chain you just realized was really tangled but you must wear tonight. So in an act of nostalgia, regression and perhaps appropriateness I wanted to fill out one of those Myspace surveys that we all used to post as bulletins? OMG. So for posterity,
When was the last time you changed in front of someone?
Last night.


What are you wearing?
Some comfy lounge pants, black tank-top, LONG BEACH sweatshirt.


Where is the shirt you are wearing from?
A hand me down :)

Do you ever turn your cell phone off?
No, I'm afraid I'll miss an important call.

What happened at 3:00am today?
I'll probably be finishing this survey.

Do you hate anyone?
Only the people I truly love.

Are you going out of town soon?
Nope.

When was the last time you cried?
Last night, jerk.

Do you have a good relationship with your mother?
I hope so!

Have you ever told someone you loved them?
Yes

Do you tend to get in fights?
Not really.

If you could change your eye color would you?
Yes and no, all of my half siblings got my Dads green eyes so I wish I could see what I looked like with green eyes. But in the sunlight my eyes look really light and pretty so, no.
What does your last text message say?
"Meeeerm its 8:30"

What was for dinner last night?
Chile rellenos, red rice, salad with cilantro dressing, and beer.

What are you thinking of doing right now?
Answering your question.

What are you doing tomorrow?
Work out, wash my baby Roman, and take him to the groomers to get his face washed and nails clipped. Perhaps make some bias tape binding to finish the hem on the circle skirt I'm making.
How are you?
Well, thank you.
How tall are you?
5'3 1/2
What do you hear?
The heater whistle.
Do you like the dentist?
No way.
Who was the last person you talked to in person?
My mom.
Are there any posters on your wall?
No.
What will you buy next?
I'm in the market for some cute workout shorts.
Favorite drink?
Orange soda.
What's the connection between you and the last person that called you?
My mother.
What color are your bed sheets?
Light pink.
Can you sleep in jeans?
I'd prefer not to, no.
Are you tired?
nah.
Are you happy with life right now?
Yea.
Have you ever read an entire book in one day?
Yes, I was a Comparative World Literature Major. I mean COME ON.
Do you believe everyone deserves a second chance?
We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
Are you a jealous person?
Naio.
What are you going to do after this?
Look up some recipes, sleep.

What were you doing this morning at 7am?
Sleeping.
Is there anything that you are craving right now?
Pepperoni Pizza.
Would you rather be a girl or a guy?
I "enjoy" being a girl.
Who is the most spoiled person you know?
My baby Roman.
Would you rather date someone 20 years younger than you or 20 years older?
Ask me when I'm 50.
Are you ticklish?
Yes, jerk.
Its 4 in the morning, and your phone rings...what do you do?
Make sure it's not an emergency I suppose.

Your name:
Alex
You have been making the world more amazing since:
1989
Oldest/youngest/or middle sibling:
ONLY CHILD

Your dad's name:
Jamil
What kind of phone do you have?
iPhone
Who is your favorite celebrity ever?
Mila Kunis
Favorite type of music:
Gen X type alt, pop-punk, the Delfonics, John Coltrane.
How many pillows do you sleep with?
1
Ever prank called the pizza place and ordered a pizza for somebody totally random?
No.
What do you find most of in your room?
Bed
How many piercings do you have?
Historically five, currently two.
How about tattoos?
None
Describe your house:
Typical San Gabriel Valley.
Who is your neighbor across the street?
My neighbor across the street.
Your favorite facial feature:
My nose.
Name the band you are listening to now:
Aaliyah Ft. Timbaland. RIP
Who do you know that throws the best parties?
I never really feel comfortable at parties.
On a boy: Skinny or Muscular?
This is dumb.
Name an item you've kept with yourself since you were young:
A blanket I suppose.
Possible children's names?
Veloria Marie, Veloria, Mariana
What is your favorite method of exercise?
The elliptical machines at the Rec Center!!!!
What do you do to get money?
I am nacent in starting my successful career.
Do you dye your hair?
No, and the woman who cuts my hair refuses to ever dye my hair. It's that beautiful.
Own a pair of skinny jeans?
Yeas.
What is the longest you have been in the car for a roadtrip?
Fucking Tahoe, OMG.
Been to Six Flags?
Yes!
What about Disneyland?
Yes, I have.
Name the bands you have band tees for:
Pixies, NO DOUBT, RHCP
Favorite local band?
I don't do local band.
How many cell phones have you owned?
Four since I started out.
Your nails are painted:
Nothing as of now.
How many pairs of sweatpants do you own?
One, unfortunately. I don't think Yoga pants count.
When was the last time you shaved your legs?
Yesterday.
What were you doing this morning at 8am?
Sleeping.
What were you doing 15 minutes ago?
Finishing this survey.
Are you mad at anyone right now?
Nah
Last person to say they loved you?
Ma.
Last person to send you a text?
My mom.
Do you have a crush on anyone?
Yes
Have you been naked today?
Yes
Do you have any famous relatives?
Our cousin was the quarter back for UCLA when they won? the Rosebowl in the seventies so sometimes people ask our family if we're related to THEE John Sciarra. For the record, yes.
Have you ever had sex in a public place?
Naio.
How many different drinks have you had today?
3.
What have you eaten today?
Leftovers from last nights Mexican feast.
Are you good at math? Yes.
Do you have plans on Saturday night?
Yes.
Do you draw your name in the sand while your at the beach?
No.
Do you look like your mom or your dad?
I've been told I look like my mother from far away, and up close I look more like my dad.
Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight?
No.
Do you like the ocean?
I went to a college that calls itself THE BEACH. Yes.
What are you excited about?
Getting a job!
What did you do yesterday?
Went grocery shopping, and cooked with my boyfriend.
Are any of your great-grandparents still alive?
No.
How many grandparents do you have?
Four?
Where do you keep your change?
In a big purple pencil bank in my closet, it's my parking ticket fund.
Who is the best person in your life?
At what?
Would you rather sleep with someone else or alone?
Together but not cuddling.
What was the weather like on your birthday?
Fairly cold, overcast. Typical Southern California winter.

The Best Two Things About Moonstruck

No One Told Me About Workaholics!?

What a great, great show. So great it gives me hope for the future, great.

I've Been Having Very Vivid Dreams Lately

Grrrrl Bands

A few months ago I got to see the wonderful Wild Flag at the El Ray. These ladies rocked hard, and about halfway through the show I went into feminism in popular culture mode. Wild flag is the supergroup of some members of Sleater-Kinney, Helium, and the Minders. To contextualize where I'm headed with this let me mention that before the show started I overheard a gentleman say, "you know, I think it's really unfair that Sleater-Kinney is labeled as a lesbian band". Interesting spin, bro. I haven't followed Sleater-Kinney and to unpack this guys remark, "I'm 100% LA douche". Still, while watching  Wild Flag, I felt differently than many other larger shows I've attended. I watched on with an eerie critical appreciation and respectful distance that is usually not present in going to rock concerts. It felt like I was watching a group of friends playing. What was missing was that I didn't want to fuck them.

The mythos of the rock band, rock star, or rock concert dictate a certain level of sexual tension and attraction. I would be interested in doing a mini-study on men's reaction to a band like Wild Flag or the Breeders in relationship to how they feel listening to oh, say Blink 182.
I hesitated on writing about this because I wasn't sure how to flesh out the equation completely, and then I stumbled across this video.

I've never heard of this band before and it's not an all girl band, but I am more viscerally stimulated by this female vocalist than I am while listening to Wild Flag. I would totally at least make out with her. She's no less passionate than Carrie Brownstien, but there is an undeniable level of seductiveness in the latter. It's important too for me to define my terms in regards to listening and point-of-view. Listening to female pop stars to me is the "we" of listening, there is a certain degree of activity on my part in meeting the vocalist half-way, it's both an active and passive act. Most male pop-rock groups I listen to is like listening to something that is being told at me, and I adapt a more passive listening role, and there's a level of magnetism to this opposition. What is fascinating to me is that there is a gradation of mesmerism in terms of female rock groups or vocalists and the real motivation behind making and listening to rock music really is just driven by who you want to have sexy time with.

I WISH I HAD A TWIN

The Man's Guide To Love #210 from themansguidetolove on Vimeo.

This is How Weird Al Would Look Crafted

MAY

THE SCIARRA REPORT EISENSTEIN EDITION

The following is a report from special LOOMG contributor Lizzie Eisenstein

You heard it here first! Trend forecast! Summer 12 is:

1.) The summer that the number of assholes on skateboards reached critical mass.

2.) The summer that the number of food trucks circulating in each city reached critical mass.

3.) The summer that the number of asses hanging out of obscenely short cut-off levi's reached critical mass.

ITS NOT OKAY

HOW REAL THIS DREAM I HAD WAS WHERE I WAS JUST MAKING OUT WITH TAYLOR HAWKINS (DRUMMER OF THE FOO FIGHTERS) IM TRYING TO PLACE WHAT SUBCONSCIOUS MERIT THIS HAS BUT REALLY ITS JUST MY UTERUS FUCKING WITH ME.



GROSS RIGHT? NO! HE WAS LIKE THIS MECHANIC IN MY DREAM BUT ALSO STILL THE DRUMMER OF THE FOO FIGHTERS SO IT WAS JUST THIS GODAWFUL SEXY JOE DIRT THING GOING ON - IT WAS DISGUSTING.

DEAR DIARY

Remember when you watched Rock n' Roll High School when you were thirteen and freaked out over this scene and then watched it again when you were twenty-two and still your heart sank? We can talk about Dee Dee Ramone in the shower and that look that makes you forget how to typoeejno -

THE LAUGH

We Need to Not Talk About Chris Brown

Every six months or so I get really obsessed with a non-news item - in other words I’ll buy a ticket for about one of every 25 shit shows. I can't remember exactly what the last one was - but right now I am delighted by CHRIS BROWN VERSUS THE WORLD. Did this all start with him being "allowed" to perform on the Grammy's? I suppose it was more of when the rumors started that him and Rihanna were getting back together. MANY INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT THIS TOPIC FOR ME. Item - if a person is extremely talented, albeit a dick - should one not enjoy said dicks work. Chris Brown is unfortunately one in a very long list of entertainers that fucked up. What I am fascinated by though is the extent in which Chris Brown is being persecuted on every media outlet while getting a considerable amount of air time on the radio. Unfortunately if Actor XYZ shot and killed wife #25 as you read this, there would not be such a tremendous backlash, and they would probably eventually be found not guilty. I suppose what freaks me out about this situation is the insanely steep stances every side is taking. This guy got into a tweet-fight with Brown and is challenging him to a “fair match” mano a mano.
While I would like to acknowledge Mr. Punks gallantry there's something familiar and dangerous in his discourse - that unbeknownst to him is very damaging and real. He says something along the lines of "women are to be revered" true that bro but check it out - while I would like to see the bookoo proceeds from this match go to every women's shelter you're not exactly advancing gender equality by curating this "fair match" - look at the language. Bascially he’s insinuating that women are incapable of defending themselves. AND NO ONE BUT ME sees the irony of a PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER who makes $$$$ beating people up offering up his services to beat someone up, to teach someone who beat someone up a lesson? It's easy to miss but unfortunately it is more easy to ignore subtleties like the language used by team anti-Brown that have a lot to do why domestic violence has a space to exist in the first place.
I feel disappointed by the pop-feminist community as well - they seemed to ignore Rihanna all together, regardless of whether they are getting back together or not. I don't feel like they're advancing the issue any by consistently talking about him while hardly respecting, or listening to the victim. Look - I hardly want to ignore the gravity of what Brown did - I just can't stand the self censoring prefixes (like I just did!) that will always be assigned to just him - especially since the incident seemed to be out of character for Brown. You've heard it before! Someone will say - "now everyone makes mistakes - but the new Chris Brown ..." I guess I'm just pissed no one will ever say "Did you see that rerun of one and a half men and the man who shot at his wife?" At the end of the day, I feel like he’s a very talented man. Excellent dancer, very charismatic.

I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW THE WORLD CAN CONSIDER CIARA TRASHI AND LANA DEL REY CLASSI

It is just not the proper equation.

HEY LADIES - GENTLEMAN

Guys - you gotsa stop dressing like Adrock, please. It's a very specific way of dress that suggests you live in Los Feliz in 1994, and when I see this in real life I believe that you support a certain devil-may-care attitude of its purest incarnation that is very attractive to me. This is wonderful, but more often than not you like dubstep. CUT IT OUT

THE SAN GABRIEL HISTORICAL SOCIETY LADIES AUXILIARY PRESENTS: "LEAVE ROOM FOR JESUS" WINTER HOLIDAY SEMI-FORMAL

THE SCIARRA REPORT 2012 EDITION

IN
Songs about butts, candy coming to life.

SO FIVE MINUTES AGO
Songs about booty calls

OUT
Quirky white people covering songs about butts and booty calls and uploading them to youtube, yuck.

IN
Everything Beyonce will do in 2012

SOOO FIVE MINUTES AGO
Speculating about what is or what is not inside Beyonce's uterus if you are NOT her obstetrician.

OUT OUT OUT
Soulful*~ British songstresses :(

IN
Not caring

FIVE MINUTES AGO
Caring

OUT OUT OUT
Caring

BONUS:

OUT
That band on the radio where the lead singer sounds like he's drowning in a *forest* of banjos.