#60 in Progress
Posted on January 18, 2014
#60: Take a Class
Just finished our second true Argentinean tango lesson. Still working with two left feet.
#100 In Progress
Posted on January 15, 2014
#100: Find a regular barber
After nearly a decade of frequenting cut rate, supercutesque “hair stylists”, I have finally began my quest to find a regular barber. Baxter and Finley might be it. I got a cut & shave and as much as I want to love a straight razor shave, it just hurts too damn much. With that said, this place may just become my regular barber. I’ll give a couple of other places a shot before deciding.
#17 in progress
Posted on January 12, 2014
#17: Attend a LA Magazine Calendar event once a month
Checked out the National Geographic Photograph Exhibit at the Annenberg Space for Photography.
Posted on January 12, 2014
Old school lunch at the Apple Pan. #7 is going to take awhile with weekends like this.
#6 Done
Posted on January 11, 2014
#6:Eat at Hakkasan
Took clients to Hakkasan in Beverly Hills. Enjoyed.
#96 in Progress
Posted on January 8, 2014
#96 Maximize Credit Card Rewards
Replaced three horrible Visa’s with their Black Card that will provide some better rewards.
The Highlights of 2013
Posted on January 6, 2014
Business may have been down a bit in 2013, but we did our best not to let it slow us down. Here’s a quick look back.
We started the year off with a bang in Rome, Italy.
We went to Vegas a lot. And ended the year at the craps table in the black.
We toured a few out of state colleges, but Brittany realized she was a California girl.
So she signed a letter of intent to play at UC Riverside.
Bought my childhood dream truck.
Ate a lot of great meals and met some superstar chefs.
Most of those meals weren’t as fancy, but just as good.
Marquette Basketball had a great run and made it to the Elite 8 in the NCAAs.
Turned 40 and hurt my Dad’s feelings when I returned these shoes.
Celebrated my birthday in Key West…
…And toured Hemingway’s home.
Business continued to drag, but…
Sushi and oysters eased the pain.
And lounging by the pool didn’t cost a thing.
Brittany graduated from High School.
Sonia and I celebrated by heading off to the Serengeti.
It may have been the trip of a lifetime. I hope to have plenty of opportunities to find out.
We found some great pools, but…
The best one allowed dogs.
Saw Mumford and Sons in Montreal.
Business and pleasure in Nashville.
We Frolicked in the vineyards of Napa.
And shared a great dinner at The French Laundry with my Mom and Jim.
Saw Kings of Leon in Las Vegas.
More business and pleasure in Sea Side, Florida.
Rushed back to California to see Brittany start the Big West Championship game.
And then adopted this little terrorist to make our lives a little more challenging.
We drove up the coast to Big Sur. A true hidden gem.
We slowed down during the holidays to enjoy time with family.
And then took off for Puerto Rico for a family vacation.
Together we rang in the new year with hopes that 2014 will be just as kind.
Posted on January 5, 2014
Normally I’d complain about the traffic into Hollywood, but it’s 82 degrees.
Posted on January 5, 2014
One more good meal for Brittany at Cecconi’s before heading back to UC Riverside.
#57 in Progress
Posted on January 4, 2014
#57: See 10 Movies in the Theater.
Fell one movie short in 2013. Started 2014 early with American Hustle. It won’t be a classic, but it was better than most over the last year.
The List of 2014
Posted on January 1, 2014
- Ring in the New Year
- Grow LA Fashion Insider
- Charleston, S.C.
- Drive a Formula 1 Car
- Prepare 12 Meals at home
- Eat at Hakkasan
- Weigh 175
- See a Performance at Disney Hall
- Off Roading
- Go to New York without any luggage
- Take the top off the Bronco
- Fish
- Full work up with a cardiologist
- Start a multiple line retail site
- Stay at Chateau Marmont
- Marquette game in Milwaukee
- Attend a LA Magazine Calendar event once a month
- Small Town Festival
- Swim in a lake
- Eat at Nikita
- Palm Springs
- Bears Game
- Out of state concert
- See Brittany score a goal
- Baseball game at a stadium I’ve never been too
- Bespoke shirt
- Road Trip
- Reroof the garage
- New closet doors
- Garage Sale
- Ski trip
- Sleep in a tent
- See 5 bar bands
- Bet on the longshot
- See an Opera
- Frame festival posters
- draft our wills
- Don’t buy a watch in 2014
- Eat at Jose Andrea’s secret Cosmo restaurant
- Watch a sunrise
- Watch a sunset
- Have a drink in a Hemingway haunt
- Complete Safari Album
- Star gaze
- Nap in a hammock
- Eat at Fishing with Dynamite
- lounge by 5 hotel pools
- Attend a music festival
- Complete 10 nagging home repairs
- See a classic movie on the big screen
- Design a sport coat
- Enjoy 3 new beaches
- Basically Me pop up store
- Host a party
- Sell our home
- Trade in a car
- See 10 new movies in the theater
- Visit something ancient
- Set my watch to 6 different time zones
- Take a class
- Wine refrigerator
- Stay at one of Conde Naste’d gold list hotels
- A new workout
- Eat at a top restaurant in the world
- See an SEC football game
- Hockey game
- Company Day Retreat
- See Basically Me in a Magazine
- Train Ride
- A better closet
- Build an iPhone app
- Write a letter
- A forever pen
- Kayak
- Try a top 10 Zagat burger
- Have a picnic
- Boat ride
- Movember
- Enjoy a waterfall
- N’awlins
- Try a Zagat Guide top 5 pizza in US
- Eat at Dan Tanas
- Make x-mas great from someone I don’t know
- Go to a Giants game
- Have a pint in a bar over 200 years old
- Eat a NYC street dog
- The Kentucky Derby
- Certified Wine Professional
- Commission a Pearl Jam/MU Concert poster from 92′
- Eat at Bestia
- Weigh 170
- Weigh 165
- Weigh 160
- Read five memoirs
- Complete a photography project
- Maximize Credit Cards Rewards
- Become TSA rechecked and Global entry approved
- Eat at Providence
- Jet Pack
- Find a regular barber
The List of 2013
Posted on January 1, 2014
-
Celebrate New Year’s Eve -
Vintage Truck Learn to FlyVisit SFU-
Visit Seattle U -
Drop Brit off at College -
Marquette Game Bears GameWrigley GameBaseball game at a stadium I’ve never been to-
Record one second each day -
Out of State Concert Small Town Festival-
Turn 40 -
Visit the grave of a relative I didn’t know Show up at the airport without a ticket and fly somewhere randomBespoke ShirtDance Lessons-
Brew my own beer with Devin Swim in a lakeVisit five city libraries-
Be a tourist in LA Mountain Bike Day TripWeigh 175lbsWeigh 170lbs165lbs160lbsReroof the garage-
120/80 or die -
Paint the gutters and window sills -
Enjoy a campfire -
Celebrate Brittany’s Graduation New Closet DoorsTake a class-
Start a retail website for Basically Me -
Eat Seafood with an Atlantic Ocean view Launch Basically MeLearn to FlyFinish writing projectJoin a classOrganize and protect important documentsDraft our wills, trusts, etcNew Desk-
Watch a Sunset -
Watch a Sunrise Coffee on a few hills overlooking the city-
Complete Paris, Spain and Italy albums -
Have a drink at Hemingway Haunt -
Star Gaze -
Create a perfect sandwich -
Nap in a Hammock -
Read 10 New Books Visit a Civil War battlefield-
Drive up the coast to Big Sur -
Attend a music festival Give away all that is cluttering my closets-
See a classic movie on the big screen -
Drink wine at a Nap or Sonoma Winery -
Make Christmas great for someone I don’t know -
Get My Grandfather’s Office back online -
Walk across a bridge -
Go to a Photography Exhibit Basically Me Pop Up Store-
Bet $100 each on five numbers on Roulette -
Play a round of golf with my dad -
Grow LA Fashion Insider, Inc Try 5 New food trucks-
Enjoy 3 New Beaches -
See someone wearing Basically Me on TV -
Host a Party See 10 movies in the theaterWrite a letter-
Visit Something Ancient Attend a gallery openingAnnual Fashion Show-
Eat at ten new LA restaurants -
Lounge poolside at 10 hotels Learn more SpanishBoat Ride-
Family Vacation See Basically Me in a Magazine-
Set My Watch to Six Time Zones -
Drink my 100 point wine bought in 2009 Hike 5 new trailsBook a trip to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil-
Visit my brother and sister at USC Have a table reading of Cheeseheads-
Eat at a top 100 restaurant in the world Aquire a first edition of Hemingway’s, “A Sun Also Rises”See an SEC football game-
Add a charity to the roster -
Recap the top five posts since the beginning -
Fix the grass Maine-
Key West ColoradoRhode IslandSouth CarolinaPro Soccer Game-
Prepare 12 Meals at Home
Exactly 50% complete. Although percentage wise it is the worst completion rate to date, 2013 was an excellent year.
#80 DONE
Posted on December 31, 2013
#80: Family Vacation
We loved Puerto Rico. The hotel was great. Everyone but Brittany won at the casino. The beaches were beautiful. The food was comforting. And the people were extremely friendly. Lots of reasons to return.
Posted on December 31, 2013
They slept in until 1:30pm so we sent this clown over to embarrass them,
#82 Done
Posted on December 30, 2013
#82: Set My Watch to Six Time Zones
1. Pacific Coast Time: Seattle, WA – Las Vegas, NV
2. Central: Chicago, IL – Dallas, TX – Nashville, TN
3. Eastern: Atlanta, GA. – Key West, Florida – Seaside, FL – Montreal, BC
4. Central European Time: Rome, Italy
5. East Africa Time Zone: Tanzania
6. Atlantic Time Zone: Puerto Rico
#52 Done
Posted on December 30, 2013
#52: Read 10 new books
An excellent and horrifying family memoir from a great writer.
Posted on December 30, 2013
We took a trip to the country to visit Sonia’s Dad and extended family. Devin and Brittany got to meet several aunts, uncles and cousins for the very first time.
Posted on December 29, 2013
We fought the kids a very valuable lesson tonight. And that is, it’s virtually impossible to win money by gambling.
Pre Jet Skis
Posted on December 29, 2013
I let Brittany drive and she reciprocated by tossing me off into the ocean.
Posted on December 29, 2013
A great dinner at Marmalade in San Juan with Sonia’s cousin and husband who are visiting from Chicago.
Posted on December 27, 2013
Before we left Chicago for Los Angeles, the kid’s daycare consisted of grandparents and aunts. It was during this time that their pallets fell in love with Puerto Rican food. Because of this, we sought out the busiest diner in old San Juan and ordered some traditional fare. Sonia and the kids were in heaven.
#68 Done
Posted on December 27, 2013
#68 Enjoy 3 New Beaches
Dipped my toes into the warm Puerto Rican waters.
Posted on December 25, 2013
Even though the kids have grown, this Youmans Family X-Mas tradition continues.
#59 Done
Posted on December 24, 2013
59. Make Christmas great for someone I don’t know.
Brittany and I returned to K-Mart and took care of a half of a dozen layaway accounts set to expire tomorrow. Hopefully it makes for a great Christmas for at least one of them.
#100 Done
Posted on December 23, 2013
We actually completed this goal awhile ago, but tonight’s chili makes it official.
#52 in Progress
Posted on December 23, 2013
Writers waxing poetic about doing what I would like to wax poetic about.
Posted on December 22, 2013
At the MGM in Vegas. More MU people that I’ve seen in a long time. Hoping for a win.
Our Yearly Playlist 