On the wall of the bathroom at the restaurant I ate at tonight:
Money, Power, Respect. That is what you need to live the life.
Upon reading this, a strange and intense feeling flooded my mind, and all I could think was:
"No man, it's love. It's all about love. The rest of it, career, money, reputation. It doesn't mean anything. Maybe you will see once you have all of those things. You are chasing the wind. It's really just all about love."
Cheesy? Cliche? Hippie? I don't care. My soul was crying out.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The wasp
Finding a wasp pressed against your inner thigh inside the cycling shorts you are wearing. Incredibly lame.
Discovering that the wasp is already dead. Marvelous!
----------------
Now playing: Yes - And You and I: Cordo of Life/Eclipse/The Preacher the Teacher/The Apoca
via FoxyTunes
Why am I listening to Yes? No idea; the music part of my brain just really wanted to hear it. That's the great thing about a fairly broad music collection.
Discovering that the wasp is already dead. Marvelous!
----------------
Now playing: Yes - And You and I: Cordo of Life/Eclipse/The Preacher the Teacher/The Apoca
via FoxyTunes
Why am I listening to Yes? No idea; the music part of my brain just really wanted to hear it. That's the great thing about a fairly broad music collection.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The ambivalence in the chase
For Christmas my grandparents gave me the highly acclaimed Planet Earth series. It is truly astounding: they have coupled unparalleled cinematography with terrific music and expert narration. I could not more strongly recommend this series.
As I mentioned a couple months back, my new favorite word is ambivalent. It captures so well the complexities of life. Not the grey in between, but the powerful thoughts and emotions that can tear us in what are sometimes two completely different directions. I mention this because it has come to mind as I watch the Planet Earth episodes. I find myself torn as I watch the incredible chases for survival between predator and prey. I want so badly for the snow leopard to catch its prey because its very life may hang in the balance of successfully capturing food. And yet I also am deeply saddened at the sight of the prey falling victim to those powerful jaws - I want the prey to escape and continue its life. It's a very strange and almost frightening sensation, to feel such diverse and opposing desires. I feel quite invested when I watch this battle for survival unfold. It's really nothing, I know. But I sense that such strong and ambivalent feelings, if more directly experienced in one's life, could rip a person' s soul in two.
As I mentioned a couple months back, my new favorite word is ambivalent. It captures so well the complexities of life. Not the grey in between, but the powerful thoughts and emotions that can tear us in what are sometimes two completely different directions. I mention this because it has come to mind as I watch the Planet Earth episodes. I find myself torn as I watch the incredible chases for survival between predator and prey. I want so badly for the snow leopard to catch its prey because its very life may hang in the balance of successfully capturing food. And yet I also am deeply saddened at the sight of the prey falling victim to those powerful jaws - I want the prey to escape and continue its life. It's a very strange and almost frightening sensation, to feel such diverse and opposing desires. I feel quite invested when I watch this battle for survival unfold. It's really nothing, I know. But I sense that such strong and ambivalent feelings, if more directly experienced in one's life, could rip a person' s soul in two.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Monday, January 05, 2009
Man's best (morning) friend
I am not an early morning person. I really wish I were, but it takes me a little time to come out of the stupor and haze I find myself in immediately after waking up. Showers help, but it still takes me around an hour to become my normal perky and happy self. I actually enjoy the rest of the morning, once I finally find my whits.
But dogs, on the other hand, really love the early morning. And it's very refreshing. When I was visiting my uncle over Thanksgiving, I got to hang out with his 2 beautiful and affectionate yellow labs. They are two of the sweetest canines I have ever known. Every morning, when I would stumble downstairs in my early morning confusion (I was, quite contrary to normal vacation behavior, one of the, if not the first person to wake up every day), they would be the first to greet me. And it was always the most enthusiastic and friendliest greeting, as if I were an age-old companion they had not seen in many years. It was incredibly heart-warming, even in my half-awake and grumpy state, to be met with such unsolicited and energetic friendliness.
A couple times, when I took a nap in the afternoon, upon returning to the family area, they would actually start barking and jumping in glee that I had returned. It felt good to be missed so, after only an hour, even if it was just a couple of dumb labs. I love dogs, and one of these days, when I get my life sorted out, I am going to get one of my own!
But dogs, on the other hand, really love the early morning. And it's very refreshing. When I was visiting my uncle over Thanksgiving, I got to hang out with his 2 beautiful and affectionate yellow labs. They are two of the sweetest canines I have ever known. Every morning, when I would stumble downstairs in my early morning confusion (I was, quite contrary to normal vacation behavior, one of the, if not the first person to wake up every day), they would be the first to greet me. And it was always the most enthusiastic and friendliest greeting, as if I were an age-old companion they had not seen in many years. It was incredibly heart-warming, even in my half-awake and grumpy state, to be met with such unsolicited and energetic friendliness.
A couple times, when I took a nap in the afternoon, upon returning to the family area, they would actually start barking and jumping in glee that I had returned. It felt good to be missed so, after only an hour, even if it was just a couple of dumb labs. I love dogs, and one of these days, when I get my life sorted out, I am going to get one of my own!
Friday, January 02, 2009
Requiem for Daddy Bim's
One of my favorite things about going home (aside from seeing family) is the excellent food, both home-cooked and in local restaurants. Southern food is really quite amazing, and I think the girth of the Bible belt will attest to this. Daddy Bim's is at the top of my list of restaurants to visit when I am in my hometown. They serve incredible food at outrageously good prices and even grind fresh beans for each pot of coffee. The place may seem like a hole-in-the-wall barbecue joint, but it is for real, with a great chef to top it off. Among other stints, Daddy Bim went to the Culinary Institute of America, was the personal cook for Don Johnson (of Miami Vice), and was the executive chef at Mountain Lake Hotel, while they were filming "Dirty Dancing" there. (He also found time to direct my mom in a stage performance of "On Golden Pond" at the local community theater.) When I ate there just a few days ago, I stuffed myself to the brim with North Carolina style pulled pork barbecue, made from scratch spoonbread, spiced baked beans, sweet tea, and for dessert, homemade root beer (less sweet but full of flavor) and to-die-for chocolate bourbon chess pie. I ate so much I felt ill, but this was one of the few instances where behaving so gluttonously was worth it.
So why, then, is this a requiem? First, let me tell you about my eating-out experience a few nights prior. A few friends and I decided to catch up and grab a drink, which required going to on of the few establishments on our side of town that serves alcohol, the local Applebee's. I was a little hungry, so I ordered a basket of onion rings for the table. They weren't great, and I soon paid for my poor decision - my stomach was quite upset for the next 16 hours. I have a had a few questionable meals at Applebee's, and I think this was the final straw. I am swearing that particular chain restaurant off for good.
But the real tragedy here is that, at my visit to Daddy Bim's a few days ago, I found out they were permanently closing their doors in the next couple of days. In fact, at the writing of this, I think they have already shut their doors. I was pretty sad when I heard this news, but then my sadness turned to anger. I mean, seriously, what on earth!? How is a restaurant with incredible homemade food prepared by a legitimate chef closing down while a mile away, Applebee's seems to be doing just fine? You'd almost certainly pay more at Applebee's, too! And the service would be worse. Does Applebee's even have a real chef? I imagine most of the food is basically pre-prepared, frozen, and delivered by truck from the nearest Applebee's warehouse. And this is the kind of establishment consumers keep in business with their patronage over a Daddy Bim's? It's mind-boggling and heart-breaking! Aren't there enough over-priced chain restaurants out there? Why not patronize one local establishment with great food to keep it in business? Have we really done so much damage to our sense of taste with all of this processed food that we cannot appreciate natural, expertly made from scratch cuisine?
The economist in me is whispering supply and demand, but this, I feel, must be an exception. Sometimes consumers make poor decisions (like buying houses they can't afford - I hear that is going around). Now you have driven an excellent establishment out of business, but at least you have your Applebee's. Part of me wants to wish on all who eat there a curse of food poisoning similar to my fate. Alas, I am not that vindictive. Punishment enough will be that, when you have a craving for some delectable chocolate bourbon chess pie, you will have little luck in finding it.
R.I.P. Daddy Bim's
----------------
Now playing: The Allman Brothers Band - Whipping Post
via FoxyTunes
So why, then, is this a requiem? First, let me tell you about my eating-out experience a few nights prior. A few friends and I decided to catch up and grab a drink, which required going to on of the few establishments on our side of town that serves alcohol, the local Applebee's. I was a little hungry, so I ordered a basket of onion rings for the table. They weren't great, and I soon paid for my poor decision - my stomach was quite upset for the next 16 hours. I have a had a few questionable meals at Applebee's, and I think this was the final straw. I am swearing that particular chain restaurant off for good.
But the real tragedy here is that, at my visit to Daddy Bim's a few days ago, I found out they were permanently closing their doors in the next couple of days. In fact, at the writing of this, I think they have already shut their doors. I was pretty sad when I heard this news, but then my sadness turned to anger. I mean, seriously, what on earth!? How is a restaurant with incredible homemade food prepared by a legitimate chef closing down while a mile away, Applebee's seems to be doing just fine? You'd almost certainly pay more at Applebee's, too! And the service would be worse. Does Applebee's even have a real chef? I imagine most of the food is basically pre-prepared, frozen, and delivered by truck from the nearest Applebee's warehouse. And this is the kind of establishment consumers keep in business with their patronage over a Daddy Bim's? It's mind-boggling and heart-breaking! Aren't there enough over-priced chain restaurants out there? Why not patronize one local establishment with great food to keep it in business? Have we really done so much damage to our sense of taste with all of this processed food that we cannot appreciate natural, expertly made from scratch cuisine?
The economist in me is whispering supply and demand, but this, I feel, must be an exception. Sometimes consumers make poor decisions (like buying houses they can't afford - I hear that is going around). Now you have driven an excellent establishment out of business, but at least you have your Applebee's. Part of me wants to wish on all who eat there a curse of food poisoning similar to my fate. Alas, I am not that vindictive. Punishment enough will be that, when you have a craving for some delectable chocolate bourbon chess pie, you will have little luck in finding it.
R.I.P. Daddy Bim's
----------------
Now playing: The Allman Brothers Band - Whipping Post
via FoxyTunes
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