I have a small, close group of friends with whom I discuss media and entertainment a lot. We have shows we watch together and we enjoy critiquing whatever happens to be the subject of the moment. It has become a long running joke that my contributions often start with "I heard (insert accomplished creative name) on Terry Gross and they said _________." What I have come to realize though, is that what is different about Terry Gross and some others (Charlie Rose) is that their interviews generally center around how a person rose to prominence and often the setbacks they faced. If one were to simply watch "interviews" on Late Night and the Tonight Show, one might assume that superstars were destined for fame, they were simply fulfilling a destiny.
One of my favorite interviews from recent years was with Jason Segel of How I Met Your Mother (you can listen to it here). He talks a lot about how he experienced early success after high school of being cast in Judd Apatow's network dramedy Freaks and Geeks only to have it canceled mid-season and did not work again for years. In light of his success over the past five years, most of his fans probably never imagined the years he spent questioning if he was wasting his time chasing his dream. What shows like this highlight is that often there are many, many setbacks before success and it's the people who grow from failure and persevere that are likeliest to experience success.
Here is another good thought from This American Life host Ira Glass about creativity and sticking with it:
Cupcakes!
Kyra has been working around the clock to keep up with all the business that the media buzz has created. Lucky for us she took the time to appear on a local news show AND give us one of her amazing recipes for Champagne Cupcakes! Here it is, just in time for New Year's Eve!
Cake:
8 oz (1 C) butter at room temperature
16 oz (about 2 C) sugar
4 large eggs
2 ¾ C all purpose gluten-free flour mix*
1 ½ C champagne or sparkling wine
Champagne French Buttercream
3 oz egg yolks
8 oz (about 1 cup) sugar
2 oz water
10 oz (1 cup + 4 TBSP) butter, at room temperature
1/3 C champagne
Make the cake:
Preheat oven to 350˚ Fahrenheit.
Line 2 12-cup muffin tins with cupcake liners and set aside.
Using the paddle attachment of a stand mixer, cream the butter until light and fluffy. Add the sugar and continue creaming until the color of the butter mixture is several shades lighter.
Add the eggs one at a time, stopping the mixer in between each addition to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Once the eggs have been combined and the batter is a uniform texture, add the flour mix in 3 additions, alternating with the champagne. Make sure to stop the mixer and scrap down the sides of the bowl so the batter is evenly incorporated.
Evenly fill the cupcake cavities 2/3 of the way full (using a large ice cream scoop is the best way to make sure the cupcake batter is evenly dispersed).
Bake until the cupcakes are done and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 14-18 minutes.
Remove from oven and place each cupcake on a cooling rack until completely cool.
In the meantime, make the Champagne French Butter Cream:
Put the sugar and water in a small sauce pot and boil until a candy thermometer registers 248˚.
Meanwhile, in the mixing bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whip attachment, beat the egg yolks on high until light, fluffy and tripled in volume.
Slow down the mixer to medium and slowly pour the hot sugar syrup into the whipping egg yolks.
Once all the sugar is in, turn the mixer speed back up to high and whip until the yolk mixture is no longer warm to the touch.
Add the room temperature butter in chunks and mix until fully incorporated, stopping the mixer to scrape down the sides of the bowl several times.
Add the champagne slowly and mix until combined. Frost the cupcakes and decorate with your choice of garnish. Enjoy!
Temple Grandin
Last year I discovered Temple Grandin. She is an author, doctor of animal science at Colorado State University and she is autistic. Her remarkable story was made into an HBO movie starring Claire Danes (I highly recommend it). She grew up in the 1950s at a time when Autism was barely even known and as a result of the devotion of her mother and teachers, she was able to harness her genius and become one of the most renowned livestock experts in the world.
She's written numerous books, two of which I am currently reading Animals Make us Human and Thinking in Pictures. The latter is her memoir about growing up with Autism. In 2009 she did an interview with Terry Gross, you can listen to it here. I am equally fascinated and awed by Temple Grandin's story. Her insight has been invaluable to understanding the thought processes of Autistic children. Give the TED talk or her interview a listen and I guarantee you will come away inspired and entertained, not to mention a little smarter.
She's written numerous books, two of which I am currently reading Animals Make us Human and Thinking in Pictures. The latter is her memoir about growing up with Autism. In 2009 she did an interview with Terry Gross, you can listen to it here. I am equally fascinated and awed by Temple Grandin's story. Her insight has been invaluable to understanding the thought processes of Autistic children. Give the TED talk or her interview a listen and I guarantee you will come away inspired and entertained, not to mention a little smarter.
Christmas Mittens
When my father was a boy, his mother started knitting these snowflake mittens. She would use wool yarn for the body for warmth, and a synthetic blend for the cuff, so that it would maintain its shape better. When she became a grandmother, she began to knit tiny snowflake mittens for her grandchildren. My brother, cousins and I had collections of all sizes and colors of these mittens. A few years ago, she knit a pair for each member of our family for Christmas. I got a red pair, as you see in the photo above.We took a photo on the stairs of our entire family wearing our snowflake mittens. I like to pull it out and show it to friends from time to time with the simple statement "and here is my family." Without the slightest hint of humor at how cheesy the picture is. They always stifle their laughter until I smile and acknowledge the fact that most people do not have a picture of their entire extended family wearing mittens.
When it came to domestic matters, my grandmother was a brilliant baker and crafter. But she was also quick witted and honestly a little bit of a hard-ass. She didn't like complaining and she valued hard work above nearly all else. Sometimes I think about how much she did before noon in her most active days that I can remember. This convenience world that we live in requires very little actual "work" in the physical sense. We can "work" all day at a computer without creating anything tangible. For some reason, around the holidays, I get this urge to create, whether it's cooking or knitting a scarf. Maybe its the cold weather, or maybe it's a way to honor the generations that came before that did these things each day.
Merry Christmas!
Call Me a Duck
UO's all male singing group, On the Rocks recently appeared on the NBC show, The Sing Off. While they did not win, they did release this little gem to the thousands of students and alumni that love them so. They're no Supwitchugirl but they are pretty good!
My Christmas List
Here are a few things I'd be thrilled to find under the tree this year. None of these are realistic, but perhaps that's half the fun.
A cattle dog pup! I fell in love with the two sweet cattle dogs that belong to some of my friends over the summer. A dog isn't in my near future, but look at that face!
A tropical vacation
A great new job
What do you want for Christmas?
A cattle dog pup! I fell in love with the two sweet cattle dogs that belong to some of my friends over the summer. A dog isn't in my near future, but look at that face!
A tropical vacation
A great new job
What do you want for Christmas?
Scary Claus
Over the next 10 days I'll be doing some posts about my favorite holiday traditions. Since the holidays can be a stressful time of year as well I thought it would be fun to talk about something I did NOT like as a kid about Christmas.
When I was a kid, I was terrified of Santa Claus. My mother was never one to make us do things we were afraid of, but she did occasionally ask me to go see Santa every other year or so. I would oblige, probably because I thought I wouldn't get any presents if I didn't. I would dread the event and always feel an immense sense of relief when it was over.
In my experience, there are generally two types of Santa Claus'. The first is the general mall/strip mall Santa. This guy looks like he hasn't slept in weeks and had a beer for breakfast. His suit is ratty and his beard resembles tangled fiberglass. I.e. the Santa from A Christmas Story. The second type of Santa is the Macy's Santa. This guy is actually an old dude with a white beard. He looks more like someone's grandpa than a guy that just got off a 5 day bender. He might be a little jolly around the mid-section and his pop-culture equivalent is the Santa from Miracle on 34th Street.
It seems that most of my childhood memories of visiting Santa more closely resemble the former version. The worst was at a strip mall in the town adjacent to where I grew up. He was scary, fake beard, and not the jolly old elf he was promised to be. As I walked up the cheesy candy-cane lane, that seemed a mile away from where my mother stood and waited, I could feel my heart beat quicken. I turned back and mother waved and smiled. I looked ahead to "Santa", sitting on his ply-wood and spray painted throne, hunched over and looking hung over. He perched me on his knee and asked the obligatory question, halitosis overwhelming his words. I blurted out the first thing I could think of, American Girl doll stuff and hoped that it would soon be over. We took a quick snapshot and my mother was given a Polaroid in a card stock frame.
The next time, we went to Macy's and stood in the impossibly long line to see Santa. I'm sure it was supposed to be better. After all, Santa actually was a jolly old man this time. He wasn't in a strip mall, his digs were far superior, but somehow it didn't matter. This visit was just as bad as the one before.
While an adult can make the distinctions between the two types of Santas, kids don't bother. And why should they? At the end of the day they're sitting on a stranger's lap either way. When you think about it, taking a child to sit on a strange man's lap in a mall is a bizarre and legitimately scary thing. When you take away the illusion of the spectacle, it's easy for adults to see why this could be such a terrifying event for a child.
Words to Live by
Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.
-Soren Kierkegaard
-Soren Kierkegaard
Mighty Oregon
I defended our team, because being a duck isn't about rankings, high profile boosters, or even how many uniform options you have. It's about the feeling in the air as you walk across the footbridge to Autzen Stadium on game day, a feeling that can only be equated to an adult's version of Christmas morning. It's about being on the other side of the country and seeing someone wearing the "O" and shaking hands. It's about supporting the PAC-10 as we consistently try to shed our underdog status. And it's about building an empire.
The state of Oregon has 1/10 the population of California. We have a small number of universities. Our economy has struggled, even when the country has experienced prosperity. I'm glad to see our great state be in the news for being among the best of the best at something. I believe Chip Kelly has kept the heads of our players on straight this season. As we rose in the rankings and continued to be undefeated he reminded them that can all change overnight. So thank you to Coach Kelly, to all the players and to Mike Bellotti who laid the groundwork. You've given us so many reasons to be proud to be ducks this year. The road has been paved for future teams, now it's time to build.
Holiday Books
I am nearly done with my term at school and have found the past few weeks were such a whirlwind I wasn't able to get much writing done. Well, actually I did a ton of writing. I was just writing a 20 page literature review and 3 other papers instead of writing for this blog. I am looking forward to this week and getting back into the habit of updating.
When I was young I loved to read and I always looked forward to bringing out the holiday books at Christmastime. Here are a few of my favorites:
The Starlight Bride by Paul Owen Lewis
This book is beautifully illustrated by Pacific Northwest author Paul Owen Lewis. A prince must find his bride and one true love before Christmas.
Christmas Trolls by Jan Brett has some of the most intricate and beautiful illustrations. The mittens in this book look a lot like the ones my grandmother used to knit for our family.
Kirsten's Suprise was a book based on the American Girl doll who had come to America with her family from Sweden. I still love this book because it is all about blending old traditions with new during the holidays.
This year I'd like to add Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien to my collection!
Fanfare: Gwyneth Paltrow
In case you missed her episode of Glee last night, here she is performing Cee Lo's "Forget You" to the New Directions.
I'll definitely be looking forward to seeing her new movie, Country Strong, which comes out in January and in which she sings. Here's to taking risks, and new directions! (pun intended)
Why Conan Matters
Conan O'Brien returned to late night television this week. It's easy to think of him as a successful celebrity millionaire, who will never need to worry about how to pay the bills, but Conan has more in common with a lot of Americans than you might think.
I like to imagine what it might have been like for Conan back in the 80's and 90's working as a writer on Saturday Night Live. He was so close to comedic success, yet in the company of people who never achieve the kind of success he eventually would. Conan eventually achieved his dream job of hosting the Tonight Show, only to fail at the highest and most public level and lose it to the guy that had it before.
Last week, when he returned to the airwaves on his new show on TBS, Conan came back humbled and it would appear, more determined than ever to be a success. It seems that his exile might have made him funnier, ignited a fire that can die with success, and gave him a new direction. The self deprecating theme provided a lot of material.
What Conan is exemplifying is that it is not our success or failure that must define us, it is how we rise again when we fall that matters. That no matter how big we get, we can always be made to feel small. That success is relative, and so is loss.
Now he moves forward, on a much smaller network. But he has started a new legacy, instead of continuing an old one, and instead of having to be pushed back into a new time slot, someone else moved back for him. You'd better believe George Lopez didn't mind being asked to follow Conan. In Conan's life, as in my own, it looks like things are going to work out after all. Not the way anyone expected, and not the way that they'd hoped, but perhaps, in the end, even better.
After all, the only thing America loves more than a success story, is a comeback.
Veteran's Day
Back from a blogging hiatus!
This fall has brought some unexpected events, but it's time to get back to it. Here is a picture of the pumpkin I carved for Halloween. Tomorrow I'll be writing about someone else who came back from a hiatus this week, Conan O'Brien!
Happy 86th Birthday to Warren Miller!
Legendary ski film pioneer Warren Miller turns 86 today. Let's hope he's taking his own advice that he's so generously dispensed to us year after year in his movies.
"If you don't do it this year you'll be another year older when you do" -Warren Miller
The Social Network
Last weekend I went to see the Facebook movie, otherwise known as The Social Network. As I generally do with most overly-hyped movies, I didn't read any reviews first. The combination of Aaron Sorkin's screenwriting and David Fincher's directing was enough to draw my interest.
I am almost exactly the same age as Mark Zuckerberg and remember when Facebook first swept my own college campus. Membership spread like the bubonic plague. There was no trend to rival it and I doubt there will be for generations. The impact of the emergence of Facebook on our generation and now everyone in the world with internet access can hardly be over stated. What began as crazy fun in college has now infiltrated our lives to the point that some companies direct you to facebook.com/companyname instead of their own corporate website, but the profitization and deeper social implications of Facebook should be saved for another post.
One thing I've heard fairly consistently from people around me is "I don't want to watch a movie about a website." The thing is, The Social Network isn't a movie about a website, it's a movie about the formation of a corporation and intellectual property rights, and above all human nature. We already know that Sorkin took plenty of liberties when creating the fictional Mark Zuckerberg and the supporting cast of money/status hungry youth. What's not so important is whether or not the conversations we saw on screen actually happened as portrayed. After all, I doubt most of us speak as cleverly as Sorkin writes. What's important about the movie is the questions it forces us to ask about the role of technology in our lives, the role of venture capital in realizing dreams and loyalty.
The film opens with a less than flattering portrayal of Mark in the midst of a breakup with girlfriend. He is condescending and glib, discussing his desire to gain membership to one of Harvard's eight Final Clubs. What's remarkable about the portrayal of Zuckerberg in this scene is not that he looks like a jerk, after all, don't people generally show the worst sides of themselves during breakups? What's remarkable is the way that he articulates his goals and the reasoning behind them. He wants to be in the Clubs to gain status and because this acceptance will "lead to a better life." Zuckerberg is so analytical about it, almost as if he realizes that it is normal as a human being to want to gain social acceptance and even though he wants to be in the club strictly for status, he should want to be in it for other reasons also.
After being dumped by his girlfriend, we see Zuckerberg spiral into a minor meltdown. Dealing with his emotions the only way he can: on the internet. This is where it becomes clear that it is not ambition that is the driving personality trait in this character, but hubris. Over the following months his interactions with the Winkelvoss twins and Eduardo Saverin lead to the establishment of what was then The Facebook. Saverin is portrayed in a favorable light, which one assumes might have something to do with his willingness to cooperate with the writers of both the book The Accidental Billionaires and the screenplay. He is certainly prominent, but it does not seem to be overkill. I would argue that without Saverin's early infusion of capital, the Facebook may never have come to fruition at all.
This is where one of the great quandaries of entrepreneurship comes in. Who is the rightful inventor of something: the person who has the idea or the one with the wherewithal to realize it? This is where the invention of Facebook gets messy. It is a well-loved American myth to credit a single person with the invention of such a now-established part of life, but it is an undeniable fact that without adequate funding, even the greatest idea can fall by the wayside. Without Eduardo Saverin's early infusion of funding the website may have never gotten off the ground. That said, capital is relatively common when compared to the scarcity of original ideas. Who is to say that if Saverin hadn't backed the site there wouldn't have been another Harvard undergrad with access to funding that would?
Mark Zuckerberg is the youngest billionaire in the world. Regardless of the merits of his invention it is undeniable that Facebook has changed the way we interact with one another and our communities, both tangible and virtual. Sorkin and Fincher have fictionalized this true story into a movie that is smarter than smart and incredibly entertaining. Let the well-deserved Oscar buzz begin!
One thing I've heard fairly consistently from people around me is "I don't want to watch a movie about a website." The thing is, The Social Network isn't a movie about a website, it's a movie about the formation of a corporation and intellectual property rights, and above all human nature. We already know that Sorkin took plenty of liberties when creating the fictional Mark Zuckerberg and the supporting cast of money/status hungry youth. What's not so important is whether or not the conversations we saw on screen actually happened as portrayed. After all, I doubt most of us speak as cleverly as Sorkin writes. What's important about the movie is the questions it forces us to ask about the role of technology in our lives, the role of venture capital in realizing dreams and loyalty.
The film opens with a less than flattering portrayal of Mark in the midst of a breakup with girlfriend. He is condescending and glib, discussing his desire to gain membership to one of Harvard's eight Final Clubs. What's remarkable about the portrayal of Zuckerberg in this scene is not that he looks like a jerk, after all, don't people generally show the worst sides of themselves during breakups? What's remarkable is the way that he articulates his goals and the reasoning behind them. He wants to be in the Clubs to gain status and because this acceptance will "lead to a better life." Zuckerberg is so analytical about it, almost as if he realizes that it is normal as a human being to want to gain social acceptance and even though he wants to be in the club strictly for status, he should want to be in it for other reasons also.
After being dumped by his girlfriend, we see Zuckerberg spiral into a minor meltdown. Dealing with his emotions the only way he can: on the internet. This is where it becomes clear that it is not ambition that is the driving personality trait in this character, but hubris. Over the following months his interactions with the Winkelvoss twins and Eduardo Saverin lead to the establishment of what was then The Facebook. Saverin is portrayed in a favorable light, which one assumes might have something to do with his willingness to cooperate with the writers of both the book The Accidental Billionaires and the screenplay. He is certainly prominent, but it does not seem to be overkill. I would argue that without Saverin's early infusion of capital, the Facebook may never have come to fruition at all.
This is where one of the great quandaries of entrepreneurship comes in. Who is the rightful inventor of something: the person who has the idea or the one with the wherewithal to realize it? This is where the invention of Facebook gets messy. It is a well-loved American myth to credit a single person with the invention of such a now-established part of life, but it is an undeniable fact that without adequate funding, even the greatest idea can fall by the wayside. Without Eduardo Saverin's early infusion of funding the website may have never gotten off the ground. That said, capital is relatively common when compared to the scarcity of original ideas. Who is to say that if Saverin hadn't backed the site there wouldn't have been another Harvard undergrad with access to funding that would?
Mark Zuckerberg is the youngest billionaire in the world. Regardless of the merits of his invention it is undeniable that Facebook has changed the way we interact with one another and our communities, both tangible and virtual. Sorkin and Fincher have fictionalized this true story into a movie that is smarter than smart and incredibly entertaining. Let the well-deserved Oscar buzz begin!
Freckleface Strawberry
I recently discovered that Julianne Moore, one of my favorite famous redheads has started writing a series of children's books called Freckleface Strawberry. It's about a little girl with red hair and freckles. I'm not a very freckly redhead, but I do have some and I love this idea for a book. As soon as I learned about it I hopped on my library's website to place a hold on it. (Sorry little girls, Madeline needs to blog about this so you'll just have to wait).
The book is downright charming. The illustrations, by LeUyen Pham are fabulously retro and capture the personality of the children in the story perfectly. Freckleface Strawberry doesn't quite rival the most established redheaded heroines of children's literature (Anne of Green Gables, Ludwig Von Bemelmans' Madeline, Pippy Longstocking, etc.) but this book is certainly a sweet way to teach children acceptance of themselves and each other.
I also came across this little video of Julianne talking about her inspiration for it:
I also came across this little video of Julianne talking about her inspiration for it:
Back to Basics: Berry Banana Smoothie
Ever the creature of habit, after several weeks of oatmeal everyday I am back on a smoothie kick. I thought I would share one of my favorites. I make this one most of the time, my other favorite is a workout-recovery smoothie that I will share another time. I make my Berry Banana Smoothie with a few simple ingredients. It is dairy and juice free.
In order to make one you will need:
Spinach is rich in many nutrients including iron and calcium and sticking it in your smoothie is a great way to add a serving of greens without thinking about it. The banana is key for masking any leafy green taste that might exist. I will note that if you freeze your smoothie and save it for later, when it unthaws it might have a slight "Alfalfa-y" smell. I've never been a big fan of dairy in fruit smoothies and the creaminess of the banana pulls it all together without the lactose. It might just be me, but I think it tastes best through a straw. Enjoy!
*This makes a great beverage by itself for before a long run or strenuous workout. Try one and a half mixed with a cup and a half of water.
- -A Blender
- -1-1.5 cups of Fresh or frozen berries - I like a mix of blueberry, raspberry and marionberry
- -A Banana
- -1/4 to a 1/3 cup water
- -Ice (only if using fresh berries)
- -A handful of fresh Spinach - trust me
Spinach is rich in many nutrients including iron and calcium and sticking it in your smoothie is a great way to add a serving of greens without thinking about it. The banana is key for masking any leafy green taste that might exist. I will note that if you freeze your smoothie and save it for later, when it unthaws it might have a slight "Alfalfa-y" smell. I've never been a big fan of dairy in fruit smoothies and the creaminess of the banana pulls it all together without the lactose. It might just be me, but I think it tastes best through a straw. Enjoy!
*This makes a great beverage by itself for before a long run or strenuous workout. Try one and a half mixed with a cup and a half of water.
Economically Speaking
In 2005, I became an economics major. It was before the publication of the now famous Freakonomics by economist Steven Levitt and journalist Stephen Dubner. The book arguably elevated the social science to a sort of trendy twenty-first century hot topic by applying age-old theory to new ideas. When it came out I bought it right away, in hardcover, presumably for an exorbitant price and read it in a day. While the essays themselves are compelling, in the introduction I found the most concise explanation for my love of the dismal science I have ever found:
Happy Monday!
Happy Friday!
Next week I'll have fewer video posts, including a review of The Social Network. Have a great weekend! Here's some Josh Ritter to get you started:
Back to School Shopping
I'm dreaming of a new fall wardrobe. I made a few purchases this week of inexpensive, staple items, but my grad student status will prevent any shopping sprees for the foreseeable future. What to do when you can't really shop? POLYVORE! Besides, it allows me to add YSL to my wardrobe.
From the left:
- Blending softness and structure for work. This outfit would work great on an Indian Summer day when it's not cool enough to require a sweater.
- I love this cashmere sweater. I'd like to put on this outfit and head to Hood River to pick up some fresh apples. The aviators would be perfect for the weak Autumn sun.
- This outfit reminds me of the clothes I remember seeing fancy ladies wear in movies when I was growing up. It would be a fun getup for a cocktail party and the sleeves and tights would help me cope with the chilly weather.
- Be still my Parisian heart. I wish I could put this on and stroll down la rive gauche to the Musée d'Orsay. I would gaze upon the gorgeous impressionist paintings then linger a bit in front of Emmanuel Fremiat's sculpture of St Michel slaying the dragon.
What I'm reading
I received How we Decide by Jonah Lehrer as a birthday gift a couple of months ago and I've finally started to read it. The book explores what happens in our brain when we make decisions and why some of us make better decisions, or make them more easily than others. This book is to brain science what Freakonomics is to economics. It's approachable and fascinating.I heard Lehrer do an interview on NPR a few months back in which he explained his inspiration for the book:
The revelation occurred in the cereal aisle of the supermarket. I was sent to the supermarket with what seemed like simple instructions, which was buy a box of Cheerios. And it wasn't until I got the supermarket that I realized that there were 20 different kinds of Cheerios. There were original Cheerios. There were honey-nut Cheerios, apple-cinnamon, multigrain, the yogurt-with-the-berry thing, and then of course there are all the generic varieties of Cheerios.Lehrer went on to describe how it took him over 30 minutes of deliberation in the supermarket to decide on some cheerios. He describes himself as "pathologically indecisive." We all know people that suffer from the "paralysis of analysis" (some of us are people like this) and I've never read anything quite like this.
I am less than halfway through the book and it is blowing my mind. One of the most compelling things that research has shown about decision making is that emotions are a positive component to our ability to make decision. This is evidenced by victims of brain damage, specifically those who have damaged the part of their brain that exhibits emotions. They don't associate feelings with good or bad choices, so they often make strictly rational decisions, which often have negative consequences. Lehrer asserts that without the emotional sting of failure attached to their decisions, success becomes impossible.
The best part about reading a book about behavior or the brain is that we often receive scientific evidence or confirmation that our instincts were correct. Think of all the little sayings we have about failure building one's character and making success all the sweeter. Turns our there is a dopamine explanation for all of that. Gotta love a little brain science.
Inspiration
"Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical and expecting more than others think is possible."I first read this quote at a friend's house who serves in the United States Army. It has stayed with me and every time I read it I am reminded of what it means to excel. It is so easy to become complacent in life, to want things to be easy. But in order to be more than that, to be extraordinary, we need discipline. I believe that discipline is the highest virtue because it makes all other virtues possible. It allows us to be focused and dedicated. It allows us to give our best to ourselves, our families and friends. It enables us to live in the present with the promise of our future goals.
That's enough, Lady Gaga
The first time I heard of Lady Gaga, I am ashamed to say, was a couple of years ago while channel surfing when I landed on an episode of The Hills. She was an unknown back then and had recently been signed by Interscope Records and the company obviously partnered with Kelly Cutrone and the Hills folks to promote her. My first thought was "Ick. What a name." It was a foregone conclusion that "musicians" who debut on (non-performance based) reality tv never achieve legitimate stardom. Oh wait.
Turns out Lady Gaga is actually quite the legit musician. I definitely love a little pop music now but I didn't immediately fall into the Gaga obsession. Eventually it wore me down. As an acquaintance of mine stated "If you are of our generation and aren't a little bit into Lady Gaga you probably don't have a pulse." Fair enough. But then there's the fashion. I have generally found Gaga's fashion to be, (pardon the pun) gag-inducing. The colors, textures, overexposed skin all just kind of gives me the creeps.
Obviously when the VMAs happened and she showed up in her meat dress I thought: of course. This is just gross. Think about it. Homegirl sat on a a bunch of steak all night long. Steak on her hair, cold animal flesh on her hips and everywhere else. I really don't object to the dress on any moral grounds. To a certain extent, I feel that animal products are animal products and at the end of the day it's no different from leather. I guess what I really want to know is this:
When does fashion stop being fashion and just start being mental illness?
Living a good story
I recently had to write my bio for my graduate school program. After all the writing I have done, my statement of purpose, dozens of cover letters, this blog, 100 words about who I am and what I've accomplished was shockingly difficult. I wrote my educational information, then a general sentence about my career and I was stuck. I took a break from it for a day. During this time I contemplated why it was so hard for me to summarize what I have done and came this conclusion:
Maybe it's so hard to write about where we've been because it forces us to re-examine where we want to go. When we do this, we are forced to ask ourselves what we really want and evaluate whether or not we are on track to getting it.In essence, our bios tell us in a concise paragraph whether or not we are living the narrative we have imagined. We seldom think of our lives in terms of a story until someone else asks us to tell it to them. We also have to sift through years of experiences and decide what were the most important events and accomplishments were. I know ten years from now it will probably be easy to pinpoint the most significant events in my early career, but when they are so recent in history, sometimes it's hard to pick them out. So for now I'll do the best I can, and in a few years, I'll have a whole new bio.
Thought of the Day
Don't expect your friends and family to be on board with every dream you ever have. Some of your ideas will be good, some won't. Be smart. Be discriminating. But when something captures your heart and won't let go, pursue it with all that you have. And the people in your life who support you, hold onto them forever.
A wedding cake for S & P
I met my friend S when we were working together at my first job out of college a few years ago. She was always helpful and fun to be around and our friendship grew slowly and steadily over the next few months. In addition to being a dear friend, she has been a mentor and adviser to me, sharing her wisdom as it applied to my life.
Shortly after she became engaged to P, she asked me if I would make her wedding cake. I was humbled, honored, shocked, joyful, you name it. But there was one obvious emotion that was absent: fear. In fact, I wasn't afraid at all until I started telling people and they asked if I was afraid. I had never made a wedding cake before, in fact I had never made a tiered cake at all, but there was something about S' confidence in my ability that made me forgo that emotion altogether. I spent the three months before the wedding dreaming up the cake and soliciting input from the bride and groom.
After a taste test we settled on a lovely dark chocolate cake recipe that I had found. Each tier would have four layers of cake and the three layers of filling would alternate bittersweet chocolate ganache and fresh raspberry. I love chocolate wedding cake so I was very pleased with this decision. Never having worked with fondant before, I covered the mini-test cake with it and S decided then and there she wanted the simple, pure look that white fondant provided. I was a bit nervous about how I would successfully cover the 14 inch tier and making it look beautiful, but I felt I had adequate time to learn. I taught myself everything I needed to know about wedding cakes by reading online articles, a couple of books from the public library and watching some YouTube videos about fondant.
A friend helped with the floral decoration and the bride's brother handcrafted the beautiful wooden cake stand. They say that it is better to give and to receive, and on their wedding day, I felt that sentiment had never been truer. Seeing the look on their faces as they saw the cake for the first time and watching everyone eat the cake at the reception made me feel that it was one of my greatest achievements of my adult life.
Cali Bagby
When I was a senior in college I became friends with a woman named Cali Bagby. Cali was a journalism major and interested in everything. She is an avid outdoorswoman and wild animal enthusiast (we watched several Wild America episodes that year).
After I graduated we fell out of touch and I always regretted I hadn't kept in better contact since we had a close friendship at one time. Luckily with the miracle of modern technology (aka Facebook) Cali popped up in my newsfeed last year, and I learned that she was to be an embedded with Charlie Company, 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation of the Oregon National Guard, in the middle east. Cali spent 10 months there with the Medevac unit and returned to the US safe and sound.
Cali has recently returned to Afghanistan as a freelance journalist and is continuing to chronicle what she is witnessing there on her blog Cali Bagby, Combat Zone. She is currently embedded with Marines. I'm inspired by her both as an aspiring writer as well as an old friend. Not everyone has that fire inside them that makes you believe they are capable of great things, but Cali has it, and she had it when I knew her, even before she had imagined where this career would take her. The work that reporters like Cali do is essential to a free society, and I am equal parts proud and in awe of what she has chosen to do with her career. Stay safe and keep up the good work, Cali.
Am I an iPhoney? Part II
Back in June I wrote about my recent acquisition of an iPhone (see post here). I had been uncertain of the impact the adoption of a smart phone would have on my communication and phone usage. Six weeks later I feel it's time to reevaluate the phone situation. I've found it to be quite helpful when I need to access information from emails such as directions. I've used the GPS a couple of times, although I recently received a Nuvi as a gift so I doubt I will need to rely on it too often for that purpose, especially since my Nuvi doesn't deplete my data plan.
I use it to check the weather on a daily basis, and use the world clock function to know what time it is where my expatriated friends are. I've downloaded a song to use as a ring tone, the Fandango application to check movie times, Pandora to listen to music anytime and anywhere, and Tetris. The main thing I love about it is the camera. It's great when I just want to quickly capture something funny, or take a photo of something I want to think about buying, or when I forgot my camera battery at a friend's wedding. It's convenient, but at the end of the day a camera would have performed the same function.
The bottom line is that the functional impact the iPhone has had on my life is negligible. Sure, some things I used to do on a computer I now do on my phone, but isn't that just a different format for the same habits? I might spend less time on my laptop, but instead I'm just staring at a different, smaller screen. The iPhone is fun, occasionally very helpful but as I described it to a group of friends the other day: it's basically a phone with a Gameboy attached. I've probably played far more Tetris on it while waiting for a bus, a friend, takeout, etc. than anything else. Let's face it, I should probably be toting a library book around with me instead. It would be much better for my brain and my eyesight. Of course it's probably too late for that, I've probably become assimilated. Besides, you know what they say, once you go Mac, you never go back.
I use it to check the weather on a daily basis, and use the world clock function to know what time it is where my expatriated friends are. I've downloaded a song to use as a ring tone, the Fandango application to check movie times, Pandora to listen to music anytime and anywhere, and Tetris. The main thing I love about it is the camera. It's great when I just want to quickly capture something funny, or take a photo of something I want to think about buying, or when I forgot my camera battery at a friend's wedding. It's convenient, but at the end of the day a camera would have performed the same function.
The bottom line is that the functional impact the iPhone has had on my life is negligible. Sure, some things I used to do on a computer I now do on my phone, but isn't that just a different format for the same habits? I might spend less time on my laptop, but instead I'm just staring at a different, smaller screen. The iPhone is fun, occasionally very helpful but as I described it to a group of friends the other day: it's basically a phone with a Gameboy attached. I've probably played far more Tetris on it while waiting for a bus, a friend, takeout, etc. than anything else. Let's face it, I should probably be toting a library book around with me instead. It would be much better for my brain and my eyesight. Of course it's probably too late for that, I've probably become assimilated. Besides, you know what they say, once you go Mac, you never go back.
Insomnia and la vie en rose
Last night I found myself tossing and turning, unable to sleep. After a weekend trip to Seattle I was unable to shut my mind off after so much socializing, eating & drinking, and of course hours in the car. My go to for nights like this is generally a glass of water and a predictable, familiar movie. Last night's selection was Sabrina, the 1995 Sydney Pollack remake of the 1954 Audrey Hepburn classic.
The movie's montage of Paris always makes me a little bit heartsick for the summer I spent in France several years ago. As the camera pans cafes with outdoor seating, Notre Dame de Paris and Ile St. Louis, I can almost smell the boulangeries and rich espresso. I think of how nice it would be to just spend time inconspicuously writing with pen and paper while drinking cafe au lait as I did many an afternoon that summer.
In the movie, Sabrina quotes Gertrude Stein, saying "America is my country, Paris is my hometown." Anyone who has ever been fortunate enough to visit and fall in love with the French way of life understands this sentiment perfectly. I never understood before that fateful trip, how you could feel so at home, all by yourself in a foreign country. I'll leave you with a favorite line from Sabrina that I feel adequately sums up the French philosophy on stuff:
On one of the bridges crossing the Seine as the sun set
What helps you sleep well?
The movie's montage of Paris always makes me a little bit heartsick for the summer I spent in France several years ago. As the camera pans cafes with outdoor seating, Notre Dame de Paris and Ile St. Louis, I can almost smell the boulangeries and rich espresso. I think of how nice it would be to just spend time inconspicuously writing with pen and paper while drinking cafe au lait as I did many an afternoon that summer.
In the movie, Sabrina quotes Gertrude Stein, saying "America is my country, Paris is my hometown." Anyone who has ever been fortunate enough to visit and fall in love with the French way of life understands this sentiment perfectly. I never understood before that fateful trip, how you could feel so at home, all by yourself in a foreign country. I'll leave you with a favorite line from Sabrina that I feel adequately sums up the French philosophy on stuff:
"More isn't always better, Linus, sometimes it's just more"
On one of the bridges crossing the Seine as the sun set
What helps you sleep well?
Take some time to enjoy the summer
I had the pleasure of hanging out with this little guy the other day. He belongs to a friend and is a 5 month old French bulldog named Pepe. What is it about animals that reminds us how to be human?
Sir Paul Receives the Highest Honor in American Popular Music
The evening started with various artists covering McCartney penned hits including (but not limited to) Elvis Costello doing "Penny Lane", Corinne Bailey Rae and Herbie Hancock's version of "Blackbird" and a surprisingly spirited rendition of "Baby you can drive my car" by none other than the Jonas Brothers. I also enjoyed Dave Grohl's turn on "Band on the Run", I saw him in concert with the Foo Fighters a few years back and I think he was a formidable rock star to be chosen for that role.
After a brief speech in which the President referenced the difficult times facing Americans, specifically those in the Gulf, Sir Paul was presented with the award and proceeded to play several of his biggest hits. Sir Paul's performance throughout the whole night begs the question: Could Paul McCartney be any more charming?
He answered this with a concise "no" when he opted to play "Michelle" in dedication to the first lady as his first song after receiving the award. While the night might have been a little too saccharine for some, I feel I'm not alone in thinking, isn't it nice to see people getting along?
Here is a behind the scenes video the White House produced of a bit of behind the scenes of the show including the Jonas Brothers' performance (starting around the 3:30 mark):
People have strong feelings
Image via New York Times
LeBron James announced today that he's leaving Cleveland to play for Miami. I didn't watch the one hour broadcast on ESPN but I imagine it was roughly the sports equivalent to the President's infomercial during the 2008 campaign. Obviously people feel very strongly about this. Specifically people in Cleveland.
Brendan Marrocco
This weekend I read this article in the New York Times about injured Iraq veteran Brendan Marrocco. I continue to be amazed and humbled by the power and strength of the human spirit. This article illuminates something we often take for granted: the value of medical research and development. Because of the incredible advancements in prosthetic technology and limb transplants, Specialist Marrocco already can walk for very short periods of time and faces the prospect of having transplanted arms and hands one day. The article is accompanied by a detailed photo essay of his rehabilitation as well as audio of the people most closely involved in this process. The new media world that we live in has its flaws, but these photo essays are an example of how our storytelling can be enhanced by technology, especially when used by a reputable source.
Abubaker Kaki
On Saturday, July 3 Abubaker Kaki of Sudan will attempt to set the world record in the 1,000m at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene. Kaki is a two-time world champion and seems poised to set the record at one of the most elite track and field events in the world. The prospect of a world record being set on the track I walked past every day on my way to class during college is, in a word, thrilling. While running may be the most understated of international sporting events, it is by far the most competitive. There is no gear to obtain, no fancy practice facilities required, a nation's GDP doesn't make its runners faster and it sure doesn't guarantee them more guts in a race. Sure, high altitude training helps and of course sponsorship and access to accomplished coaches, but when it comes down to it, man was built to run. It's hard to find a playing field more level than that.
So on a day in July, in a small town in Oregon known mostly for its college, the world will watch a man from a country most of us will never visit attempt to do something that until that moment was impossible.
So on a day in July, in a small town in Oregon known mostly for its college, the world will watch a man from a country most of us will never visit attempt to do something that until that moment was impossible.
Godspeed, Kaki.
Cakes are Important
It was a tradition in my family growing up that we should have a classic birthday cake: yellow cake with a special family recipe chocolate frosting. These cakes were generally decorated by my father's steady, even hand, with whatever image I happened to be infatuated with that year. One year it was Kermit the frog, another my favorite teddy bear. As I grew to be a teenager I had different types of cake, ice cream cakes, bakery bought, and brownie sundaes lured me away from this tradition. A few years ago we returned to the tradition and wondered why we had ever strayed.
In college I began to bake cakes for some of my friends on their birthdays (depending on how busy the term was). I baked my first red velvet cake from scratch (before I'd ever even tasted one) for a friend of mine who had grown up in Texas. The cake turned out fantastically and my friend's gratitude inspired me to make it a bit of a tradition.
Baking a cake can be intimidating and with the popularity of cupcakes it's somewhat of a rarity these days. While cupcakes are charming, they just cannot compete with the commanding presence of a layer cake. I recently baked an alternating four layer raspberry and dark chocolate cake. When sliced, the contrast of the pink and brown was striking in a way that a cupcake could never be.
Next month I will take on my greatest cake challenge of all: baking the wedding cake of a dear friend. The question I have been asked most is "Aren't you afraid?" The answer to that is that fear had never occurred to me until asked. I've got resources and some experience and I trust that my friend would not have asked me to take on this task without first believing.
Last week I received a classic cake with twenty-five candles on it. It was delicious as ever but I've decided that this is the last year it's probably safe to put the right number of candles on it!
In college I began to bake cakes for some of my friends on their birthdays (depending on how busy the term was). I baked my first red velvet cake from scratch (before I'd ever even tasted one) for a friend of mine who had grown up in Texas. The cake turned out fantastically and my friend's gratitude inspired me to make it a bit of a tradition.
Baking a cake can be intimidating and with the popularity of cupcakes it's somewhat of a rarity these days. While cupcakes are charming, they just cannot compete with the commanding presence of a layer cake. I recently baked an alternating four layer raspberry and dark chocolate cake. When sliced, the contrast of the pink and brown was striking in a way that a cupcake could never be.
Next month I will take on my greatest cake challenge of all: baking the wedding cake of a dear friend. The question I have been asked most is "Aren't you afraid?" The answer to that is that fear had never occurred to me until asked. I've got resources and some experience and I trust that my friend would not have asked me to take on this task without first believing.
Last week I received a classic cake with twenty-five candles on it. It was delicious as ever but I've decided that this is the last year it's probably safe to put the right number of candles on it!
Underneath it all
Fast forward more than 15 years to the FIFA World Cup 2010. It is clear that social media has been a friend of this event because you couldn't escape the buzz if you tried, of course why would you? What's not to love about an event that truly brings the world together on (pardon the pun) an even playing field. The winners in this contest aren't determined by GDP or military strength, having the best educational system or strongest tourism industry doesn't score goals. The results come strictly from the most skilled teams with the most heart. On father's day I caught some World Cup coverage and who should be an ESPN analyst? None other than Alexi Lalas, MLS ambassador of the 90's. I heard the announcers say his name before I saw his face, which is a good thing because I likely would not have recognized him otherwise. Behold, the striking man that faced the camera:
Let us never underestimate the power of a decent haircut.
Beverly Cleary
Growing up in Portland, Beverly Cleary's books were required reading. The fictitious world of Ramona Quimby, Beezus, Henry Huggins, Ribsy, and Aunt Bea were a beloved place that happened to exist in my very own hometown. One year in grade school my class took a field trip across town to walk down the real Klickitat Street and other places immortalized in Cleary's series. One day not too long ago I found myself walking down Quimby street in Northwest Portland and thought of the young freckled heroine of those books I hadn't thought of for so long. Until now, Ramona's legacy has been restricted to the original books and a 1988 Canadian mini-series starring a young Sarah Polley which I watched on PBS many, many times. On July 23rd the full-length feature version starring Selena Gomez and Joey King will hit theaters.
Gomez is of Disney fame and I after checking out Joey King's IMDB page I'm fairly certain the only thing I have seen her in is an episode of Entourage where she played "Chuck Liddell's daughter." Ramona's parents are played by Bridget Moynihan and John Corbett (wholesome twist for two actors known for their roles on Sex and the City) and the beloved Aunt Bea and Uncle Hobart are played by Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Duhamel, respectively. I'm thrilled by the casting of Goodwin as Aunt Bea, who exemplifies the ultimate in idealized role models: the cool aunt.
It's always a risk converting a literary classic into a film. I'll admit I was and to a certain extent still remain highly skeptical that a current children's movie could do justice to the books I loved all those years ago, but after watching the trailer I feel rather optimistic. It was filmed in British Columbia, which is passable as Portland, Oregon and they seem to have captured at least some of the charm of the novel upon which it is based. It's a refreshing departure from the hyper-merchandised, trendy movies that have become the standard in the age of product placement and manufactured stardom. In fact, I believe I didn't see a single product placement in the entire promo. I plan on seeing it upon its release (likely on DVD some months down the road). Check on the trailer for now:
Gomez is of Disney fame and I after checking out Joey King's IMDB page I'm fairly certain the only thing I have seen her in is an episode of Entourage where she played "Chuck Liddell's daughter." Ramona's parents are played by Bridget Moynihan and John Corbett (wholesome twist for two actors known for their roles on Sex and the City) and the beloved Aunt Bea and Uncle Hobart are played by Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Duhamel, respectively. I'm thrilled by the casting of Goodwin as Aunt Bea, who exemplifies the ultimate in idealized role models: the cool aunt.
It's always a risk converting a literary classic into a film. I'll admit I was and to a certain extent still remain highly skeptical that a current children's movie could do justice to the books I loved all those years ago, but after watching the trailer I feel rather optimistic. It was filmed in British Columbia, which is passable as Portland, Oregon and they seem to have captured at least some of the charm of the novel upon which it is based. It's a refreshing departure from the hyper-merchandised, trendy movies that have become the standard in the age of product placement and manufactured stardom. In fact, I believe I didn't see a single product placement in the entire promo. I plan on seeing it upon its release (likely on DVD some months down the road). Check on the trailer for now:
Words of Wisdom
It's Wednesday and it's easy to lose momentum at this point in the week, which is why I provide you the sage words of one Barney Stinson. Barney is the beloved resident bro on CBS' How I met your Mother played by Neil Patrick Harris. Until last year when I heard the phrase "30 minute CBS sitcom" I would've thought of Two and a Half Men, the highest rated network sitcom on television. With all due respect to the fine comedic acting skills of Jon Cryer and Charlie Sheen, I never tuned in. A friend introduced me to HIMYM via season 1 on DVD and I was hooked. The show is quick and witty. The continuity is one of my favorite parts. You've got to love a show that rewards its viewers with references to episodes from three seasons prior. If you do start watching the show, I highly recommend starting with season one as the show is essentially a continuing narrative. Here's to the middle of the week and finding inner awesomeness.
Am I an iPhoney?
Last week, the cell phone that I've had since I was a senior in college finally bit the dust. It didn't have a lot of functionality but it never dropped calls and most importantly was cheap with a cheap coverage plan. I went to AT&T and while perusing the phones was approached by a sales associate and began to discuss the various models. He suggested I consider an iPhone. Clever, I thought, just by the virtue of bringing it up you're giving me no choice but to consider it. I love my Apple computer, but when the iPhone came out I wasn't terribly interested in it and figured I would wait until the price came down. Whenever an expensive new gadget comes out and people go crazy over it I always think of that scene from The Wedding Singer where Glenn tells Julia he just got the newest thing (a cd player) and that it was only a thousand bucks. Basically I like to give myself a little time to let the excitement calm down a bit and then evaluate whether or not I really want it.
Turns out the price of the iPhone has dropped enough and AT&T has revised their minimum data plan so that the whole thing is significantly less expensive. This is undoubtedly due to the fact that their exclusive deal with Apple is running out shortly and they realize they are going to have to become more competitive. I was able to get an iPhone for roughly the same price as another phone I was interested in with a nominal increase to my monthly service charges. I was probably the easiest sale the kid made all day. Cell phones are probably on my top 5 least favorite things to shop for list and I was glad to get in and out. A small part of me felt personally defeated. I had resisted the trend for so long, held out against the need to feel constantly connected and have the internet at my fingertips at all times. Had I held out all this time for nothing?
I spent the afternoon customizing it to my preferences and thinking about this new piece of equipment that I will use on a daily, possibly even hourly basis. I thought to myself "This isn't going to change me. I'm still the same person," a mantra generally reserved for first time parents and people undergoing real life-changing experiences. I didn't download a truckload of apps, or cheeky ringtones in favor of a more minimalist approach: when the need comes up for more stuff, I'll get it then. Forty-eight hours later I had sent and received a handful of texts, sent an email, read some blogs and downloaded exactly two apps (NPR News and a fitness/diet app). I feel calmer, more convinced that I'll be able to resist the phone addictions that have entrapped so many of my friends and acquaintances.
As I sat on the bus home from work on my first weekday of being an iPhone user I decided to respond to a personal email. I didn't enjoy emailing after work so perhaps this would be the perfect way to save some time. As I composed my email I couldn't help but feel like the eyes of the woman sitting next to me were scrutinizing everything I wrote. The email was a planning discussion with a fellow hostess of an event I'm putting on and was mainly logistical but interrupted every so often with fairly personal texts. The bright colors and snazzy logos on my iPhone just begged of this woman "Read me. Look at how colorful I am and how quickly I change. I am the chameleon of technology." I realized while sitting there that although I now have the capability to do all these things in virtually any public place, it doesn't mean I will. A close friend had given me a good natured ribbing over the fact that I am now one of "those people with an iPhone" but sitting on that bus I couldn't help but wonder: am I an iPhoney?
Only time will tell. It's early and perhaps I'm not assimilated into iPhone culture yet. To be continued...
Turns out the price of the iPhone has dropped enough and AT&T has revised their minimum data plan so that the whole thing is significantly less expensive. This is undoubtedly due to the fact that their exclusive deal with Apple is running out shortly and they realize they are going to have to become more competitive. I was able to get an iPhone for roughly the same price as another phone I was interested in with a nominal increase to my monthly service charges. I was probably the easiest sale the kid made all day. Cell phones are probably on my top 5 least favorite things to shop for list and I was glad to get in and out. A small part of me felt personally defeated. I had resisted the trend for so long, held out against the need to feel constantly connected and have the internet at my fingertips at all times. Had I held out all this time for nothing?
I spent the afternoon customizing it to my preferences and thinking about this new piece of equipment that I will use on a daily, possibly even hourly basis. I thought to myself "This isn't going to change me. I'm still the same person," a mantra generally reserved for first time parents and people undergoing real life-changing experiences. I didn't download a truckload of apps, or cheeky ringtones in favor of a more minimalist approach: when the need comes up for more stuff, I'll get it then. Forty-eight hours later I had sent and received a handful of texts, sent an email, read some blogs and downloaded exactly two apps (NPR News and a fitness/diet app). I feel calmer, more convinced that I'll be able to resist the phone addictions that have entrapped so many of my friends and acquaintances.
As I sat on the bus home from work on my first weekday of being an iPhone user I decided to respond to a personal email. I didn't enjoy emailing after work so perhaps this would be the perfect way to save some time. As I composed my email I couldn't help but feel like the eyes of the woman sitting next to me were scrutinizing everything I wrote. The email was a planning discussion with a fellow hostess of an event I'm putting on and was mainly logistical but interrupted every so often with fairly personal texts. The bright colors and snazzy logos on my iPhone just begged of this woman "Read me. Look at how colorful I am and how quickly I change. I am the chameleon of technology." I realized while sitting there that although I now have the capability to do all these things in virtually any public place, it doesn't mean I will. A close friend had given me a good natured ribbing over the fact that I am now one of "those people with an iPhone" but sitting on that bus I couldn't help but wonder: am I an iPhoney?
Only time will tell. It's early and perhaps I'm not assimilated into iPhone culture yet. To be continued...
Sweden's Princess Victoria gets married
Crown Princess Victoria wed Daniel Westling on Saturday, June 19 in Stockholm. The wedding, with 1,200 guests was the largest royal wedding since Charles and Diana. The Princess was the picture of elegance in her cream colored off-the-shoulder gown designed by Pär Engsheden. She is the next in line for the Swedish throne after her father, King Carl XVI.
Doesn't she look absolutely stunning and joyful? I love the expression on her face in this photo. Great slideshow can be found here.
Father's Day
Hope you had a great Sunday. I enjoyed a drizzly walk in the park with my dear dad and his faithful dog followed by a barbecue. Here's hoping the week ahead brings some sunshine!
Dreaming of warm weather
The weather in Portland has been completely dreary for the last few months. With record rainfall in May and June and below average temperatures, I'm starting to daydream almost constantly of what it would feel like to be in a warm climate again. I wouldn't mind spending a day (or month) in Tahiti enjoying the amazing natural beauty. Stay warm out there!
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