The Rowell Collection

Is This The End or Just Beginning?

I made the decision to stop blogging on here for a few reasons.  I won’t get into details, but they’re valid.   I was all ready to completely close up shop until I was driving around listening to the new My Bloody Valentine LP and realized I should write an in depth post about it.  So then I realized what the hell?  I may as well keep blogging.  But what I am going to do is make it password protected so that it isn’t out there for whatever people may want to twist my words and take them out of context.  If you want the password, just ask me.  Otherwise, you’re out of luck.  Anyway, if you’re interested, I’ll sometimes post at returnofrowellcollection.tumblr.com and I’ll link to it here.  If you’re one of the people that came out of the woodwork to read my blog and give me some feedback, I genuinely can’t tell you how much your positive feedback meant to me.  This started on a lark and lasted over two years and I never thought it would go this far.  I’ve gotten a lot out of it, so that is what drives me to continue. The positives definitely outweigh the negatives and I would encourage everyone to do something like this if they haven’t already.  It is a grind, but often times in a very good way.   That is it for now, but it shall continue I hope.    

Quick Post

I haven’t written anything in a while, but that is okay.  Last week was miserable, so if I started, it wouldn’t have been pretty.  Anyway, I have had a few ideas lately, but no real desire to blog about them.  So I haven’t.  I hope you haven’t missed too much of this ranting. 

One thing I had ranted about was not having and not paying for cable.  Let me tell you, it is great.  However, there is a downside to that.  People always rave about how there is good stuff on TV.  I’m sure you’ve heard it.  Maybe it is Girls, or Enlightened, or Mad Men although probably not Duck Dynasty.  But you know what people also carry on about?  How expensive their cable bill is.  We’ve finally found a way to support a ton of good programming; it just sucks to pay for it.  So while I may be missing out on seeing stuff immediately, I’m not worried.  The other thing about so much stuff being on is that I’m able to see stuff with fresh eyes months or years after it was released since nothing reaches critical mass that spoils everything for me.  Maybe I’ll know what happens to the guy from Breaking Bad when I finally get around to watching it, but you know what?  I’m doing fine without it and it saves me a lot of money. 

The other thing that occurred to me was regarding the hot button issue of obesity.   Why do we never blame the microwave for obesity?  I’m not saying it is all to blame, but the microwave has essentially changed the way that we prepare food and in turn how long it takes to make something.  Since we no longer really have to wait for food to be prepared, the relationship between wanting to eat something and eating it has changed.  If you’re sort of hungry, you can have something decent in five minutes.  Before the microwave, it took a LOT longer.  Try living without one, it changes things around quickly. 

One thing that was miserable about the previous week was having the flu.  I got the shot and still got the flu.  However, what can you do?  It is so frustrating to be worn out and to not be able to do much for fun or for work.  I’m on the mend though and that’s all I can ask. 

I don’t think I’m going to write much more tonight, but maybe I will try to more later on.  Or maybe I won’t. 

Quick Entry On Being Boring

I keep meaning to write something for this silly blog and it comes in fits and starts.  As I mentioned before, I have been paying less and less attention to the silliness around me.  However, I also haven’t been making this a priority.  I’ve been focusing on other endeavors, and that causes the blogging to suffer.  Also, having a through line that is my own craziness doesn’t help either.  Since it is basically a log of all the insanity in my life, as I simplify my life and lower the insanity, my personal satisfaction goes up.  However, the blogging goes down. 

So what’s on the plate for today’s blog?  I could rant about the Catholic Church and the Pope retiring.  My thoughts on this is that they tend to do just enough sane things to remind you how crazy they are the rest of the time.  While they surely feel they’re doing the work of God, they certainly don’t seem to act that way. 

I could also talk about the Grammy’s, but I barely pay attention to that either.  We all know they’re not relevant.  We all know they’re silly, but at this point you know I’m not even going to bother.  Mumford and Sons?  I know they do some updated Dexy’s Midnight Runners type stuff, but I don’t bother with their mess.  Fun?  Who cares.  Or should I say fun.?  IRREGARDLESS!  There is nothing there to really discuss, is there? 

I am also not paying attention to that show Girls. 

Regarding the crazy ex-cop that is killing people around LA?  Yeah, not much to add to that either.  It reminds me of the DC Sniper attack, but more targeted. 

Did I mention I did my taxes?  What a necessary evil.  I hate paying taxes as much as the next guy, but I just don’t think about it.  What is the point in getting yourself worked up about it? 

Anyway, that is about it for today.  Does this blog entry suck?  Yes.  But… I’m trying here.  Maybe something interesting will make for better blogging.  I am going to a TV taping this week and there are surely going to be exciting times coming from that.  Or not. 

Super Bowl, Korrupt Katholics and NAVZ NEWZ

I don’t have much to write about, but I may as well put my thoughts down.  It is Super Bowl Sunday.  I am not that excited because “my” team isn’t playing.  That said, it should still be fun.  I guess I’ll root for the Niners because I remember watching Joe Montana and Jerry Rice when I was a wee lad.  Also because I am not a fan of the Ravens.  I am probably more excited about the nachos I’ll consume during the game than the game itself.  I got corn tortilla chips, not flour.  This is a critical element to any good nacho.  I also went for a hike so I wouldn’t feel too guilty about chowing down like a champion. 

Perhaps you heard about the drama with the LA Catholic Church this week.  Once again, as information came to light, they acted and slapped a Cardinal on the wrist for covering up sex abuse.  If this is your flavor of religion, so be it, but as an organization they’re beyond corrupt.  Why am I bringing this up?  This creep lives on my street I think.  I heard he lived in North Hollywood, but when I got home on Friday there were a bunch of news trucks on the street.  I put things together and realized he probably lives in one of the houses near the Catholic Church down the block.  I then had to ponder the very real possibility of whether or not I’d bump into this guy at some point.  And what would you say to him if you did?  There is a part of me that would love to scold him and there is also a part of me that feels tremendous pity for this guy.  I mean, screw scolding him, just punch him for what he did.  Then there is a part of me that thinks he knows he has failed in his life’s work and will be going to hell.  So why bother hurting him?  I honestly don’t know what to think, but it is an interesting question. 

I hope you’re not too upset at me for not making a stadium out of snacks for the game.  Maybe next year. 

Congratulations to loyal reader NAVS for getting engaged.  I look forward to all the festivities in the future, but mostly them visiting in a few weeks. 

NAVS proposed at the Kennedy Center before a show there.  Other friends have done it at Disney World and a Taylor Swift concert.  It makes me wonder how long it is until pop culture engagements is and AV Club subject.

Side note: I guess I didn’t need to move across the country to be surrounded by a corrupt Catholic church, I could have stayed in Boston for that.   

I think the Puppy Bowl is happening before the Super Bowl today.  People that like the Puppy Bowl should actually be watching the overly sentimental Bart’s people stories that are on now.  They should tune into the puppies later.

That is it for today.  Go Football! 

Blogging About Not Blogging

I realized I hadn’t been blogging much and I made a note to myself to blog.  And I also realized I should write about why I haven’t been blogging much (or bogging as my note said.)  There isn’t really one good reason like “hey, I’ve been traveling or doing something interesting.”  Instead, I think some of it is because I just try to let more and more stuff go and that means I have less and less to blog about.  It isn’t that less stuff is happening, I suspect it still is.  I have just tried my best to avoid situations that used to drive me crazy and not let stuff that can rub me the wrong way do it. 

For instance, I work with a woman that speaks loud on the phone.  This would have driven me nuts a while ago.  In fact, I can even think of a similar loud talker in another job I’ve had.  But I honestly don’t even think about it anymore.  What do I mean?  I used to say to myself “what the hell is this guy going on about?”  Now I just say “that’s who that is,” and put in my headphones.  That said, I think the loud talker now is nicer than the previous loud talker and in addition, it helps that it is cool you can wear headphones.  But still, I just don’t even consider it anymore.  Why bother?   So while the insanity of the loud talker used to make for the type of stuff I’d carry on about, I just let it go. 

There are numerous other things like that I just don’t care about anymore and I tend to preach it as well as practice it.  For instance, I barely watch TV anymore.  Why?  It isn’t because I don’t have a TV, it is because I don’t really care to bother with it.  I like certain things and when I’m not watching them, I let it pass.  What is the point otherwise?  I used to get myself more worked up about trivial things, and while I’m missing the stuff that would make for a more compelling blog, I’m also just walking around blissfully more often. 

I guess if ignorance is bliss, this is as close as I’m getting to it.  What do I mean?  I’m conscientiously tuning out a lot of crap that could make me worked up.  And it is great.  I’m not completely ignorant; I’m just more cognizant of what I ought to devote my energy toward.  Stuff like politics and random news stories can be upsetting, but since there isn’t much I can do, I just let them breeze on by.  A few days ago there was a story about a guy who buried his dead father in his backyard and continued to collect his social security checks.  It was sad and horrific and confusing.  And I could have rambled on about it for a while.  Who does this?  Why?  What’s going on?  But what is the point.  If you wanted content for content’s sake, you could turn on the regular news.  You don’t need my poorly thought out opinion on the subject.  So instead I just said, I feel bad for all involved and moved on. 

I could extend this to the Manti Teo insanity and numerous other things.  But what is the point? 

The Coachella lineup got released.  Needless to say, I’m very excited about it.  I don’t have too much else to say as of right now. 

This video makes me amused to no end.  Seriously.  It just makes me happy. 

After all this ranting, I am going to look for more crap to write about and do it more often.  I still enjoy writing this blog; I just haven’t had the same inspiration to write about the same crap.  Maybe this will push me to expand the offerings. 

That is it for today.  I hope this was better than nothing. 

The Magic of McKayla Maroney’s Instagram, Jon Hamm and Spam*

*No spam, I’m just a sucker for rhyming. 

I feel like I should write a blog post while I’m being lazy and drinking my coffee instead of when I’m full of emotion after the day’s football games.  I don’t have too much going on this MLK weekend.   I’ve been doing all types of boring things, although I did go to a taping of Doug Loves Movies yesterday.  That is something I do fairly often, but this is merely of note because Jon Hamm was there.  Things of note about Jon Hamm: He is funny as hell; he is as handsome in person as you expect him to be. 

I had mentioned McKayla Maroney’s Instagram before and yesterday it got better.  Loyal reader Chaz emailed me a link to a picture she had posted saying that I was right about my earlier mention of this.  The picture did not disappoint.  Now granted, I do come off like a creep when I’m like “oh dude, can’t wait to see this 17 year old girl’s instagram picture.”  But no, the excitement I’m describing is the INSANE commenting that it elicits, not the picture itself.  This picture brought out all corners of the world to comment on what she was doing. Dudes offered up everything from marry me, to things that you ought not to be saying.  And then there were the police type dudes, who are trying to tell people to NOT say the things they’re saying.  Then there are girls who are saying stuff like “you’re my hero/role model” and the other girls accusing her of having plastic surgery.  And there was even a grandma in there warning her that she is a role model for her four year old granddaughter, so to watch what she does.  It is all very entertaining. 

But what is it that I find so entertaining about all this anyway?  I think some of it is the fact it is all genuine. The people making the comments all seem to be pretty into it, especially when they trade barbs back and forth.  But I think some of it is also the trivial nature of it.  There are literally thousands of comments being made on one seventeen year old’s photograph.  It is so intriguing because, it is the absolute peak of the inane.   When you get random comments about news items, they could affect someone’s life, such as healthcare or a government program.  When you’re talking about gossip or sports, it doesn’t REALLY matter, but there is something there to have an opinion on.  But here, it is just thousands of people commenting on a very superficial thing.  Yet it is amazing.  I think another thing I enjoy is just how foreign the whole thing is to me.  I get dozen of readers here at the Rowell Collection, so I can’t identify with what is happening.  Yet it is interesting to drop in and see what is going on. 

Oh, I guess Obama’s second inauguration is today.  That is something.  I have to say, I’m very happy I’m not in DC anymore.  That is good news because I don’t have to deal with it.  News about the security, road closures, etc. doesn’t make it outside the beltway, but rest assured it is hectic. 

I’m cautiously optimistic about the Patriots game today, but who knows what will happen.  Regardless, it will be a good day of football I hope. 

It was cold, really cold last week. But now it is back up to the 70’s and maybe even 80 this week.  I went for a hike and it was grand. 

This Manti Te’o thing is amazing.  The more that comes out the more confusing it gets.  There is a lot of misdirection and drama, but I will be interested in seeing how this all goes.  I can tell you who the most angry is about this?  CAA.  That is who.  His agents are watching money and leverage disappear.  Speaking of which, of course Lance Armstrong was cheating.  If these dudes don’t like the drama that comes along with being a star and doing things like being seduced by a fake person, making up a fake girlfriend or injecting themselves with drugs, they can always apply to 7-11.  But this is what comes with it.  And you know what?  I don’t blame these dudes for going for that extra edge, just don’t be surprised when people find out. 

I think this is it for now.  I didn’t have much to say when I started and now I have even less.  I hope this didn’t bore you too much.   

Mid-Jan Rantz

I don’t really know what to write about, but I have one thing left on my to-do list and it is write a blog post.  I had a few ideas, but nothing came out fully cooked. 

First and foremost, it is cold in Los Angeles.  It seems crazy, but there are numerous aspects to it.  First, it is a desert, second it is windy, third nothing is designed for cold here.  So when it gets cold, it feels cold.  I know this isn’t the hurt to be outside cold I’ve experienced before, but that is something you learn to cope with.  This is “I honestly can’t believe this” cold.  More frustrating, less painful.   The thing I struggle with is the lack of design; my apartment just wasn’t set up for below-freezing nights.  So that means I’m wrapped up at night to keep warm.  I feel silly, but then I realize it will be nice soon enough.  Still, it feels ridiculous. 

It is funny to fall into all these California complaints, but I think it is a rational reaction to how things are.  If you find yourself in any position, you tend to acclimate to the good and bemoan the bad.  I am sure that everyone reading this feels good that they could afford to put food on their plate and have shelter over their head, but they’re not actively thankful for it.  Instead they focus on my poor grammar and incomplete sentences.  Same difference, as I equivocate away my silly laments. 

BOSTON READER ALERT:

Numerous comics will be taping specials for comedy central there in February.  You should go check it out.  I don’t know all of them, but I can vouch for numerous funny people that will be there to entertain you.  Do you hate laughs?  Of course not.  I will provide more information soon. 

I increasingly find myself tuned out from the news.  I just have a hard time digesting it.  There isn’t much that directly affects my life.  Sure the fiscal cliff was a thing, but that happened whether or not I was watching.  I wasn’t calling or writing my congressman.  Do people do that?  I know they do because I know people that answered phones in those offices.  The question isn’t as much “Do?” as it is “Who?”  Who are these people that are calling their congressman, talking to an intern and expecting change?  (I don’t know.) 

I have really been about carrots lately.  I guess my palate has moved to a highly orange state. 

I went out to dinner tonight and the place had an open kitchen.  I think the highlight of my meal was noticing the chef beaming with pride as he saw us dig into a dish that was quite tasty.  I certainly enjoyed the hell out of the food and the company, but there was something extra special about seeing someone so contented, even if momentarily, by their hard work. 

I honestly enjoy reading ridiculously slanted Wikipedia articles.  People make such irrational leaps and frame things in such an interesting way.  I could try to define it, but look up something and you’ll know what I mean.  If I actually cared, it would be annoying.  But when you’re looking up details of Simpsons or Beavis and Butthead episodes, it is awesome. 

Regarding my CES post last week, I think that debacle of a presentation must have been designed by engineers.  It seemed to have a lot of ingredients, but no real “there” there.  That is what happens when you build to spec, it doesn’t necessarily come together.  This is true across numerous areas of your life. 

In regards to the Washington Redskins, I spoke too early.  They’re a disaster again. 

I think that this is it for today.  I hope it worked well enough.   

Kiss, CES, and a Lot of Questions

I wish I had some overarching big ideas that I could write about for the blog today, but I don’t.  I have a collection of videos that I thought were interesting enough to share.  But honestly, posting Morrissey videos that are 20-30 years old and commenting on them isn’t what this blog is about.  I don’t think there is an “about” that this blog is necessarily.  But that isn’t what it is. 

What I could write about is the Peter Criss book.  I mentioned it in my last post, but as I move deeper into it, it gets better.  Peter Criss was the drummer for Kiss in their heyday and he appears to have written the rock autobiography that you’ve wanted to read.  He dishes on people, tells crazy stories and doesn’t come off like an animal.  While there have been other books I’ve read (way too many actually,) this one does what you want it to do.  I feel like these books usually gloss over the debauchery because it isn’t remembered or they don’t want to share.  Criss isn’t doing this.  In the case of Motley Crue, they shared dirt but they took a perverse pride in it that made you feel a little creepy.    

Possible celebrity sighting: Darrell from Storage Wars at the gym next to me on an elliptical machine.  I’m not sure, but I thought the guy looked familiar and he looked at me expecting to get noticed.  How about that?  Jealous all you east coasters? 

Actually, if I wanted to make you jealous I would carry on about how it was 70 and I read a book in the park at lunch today.  That was pretty nice. 

If you’re not familiar with the Stuebenville Ohio rape situation, it will make your skin crawl.  The fact that this stuff can happen in America in 2013 is shameful.  Get up to speed and demand justice.

However, the fact that a group went in and got all this information from people is also troubling.  I won’t bother saying the name, because they could come after me.  But my point is this: I like what you did in this case, but it is hard to buy into a group that doesn’t have some direction that is a lighthouse providing a strategic direction come good or bad times.  Say what you want about the ACLU, their commitment to free speech is clear.  I don’t always like what they’re doing when they defend the scum of the earth, but I get it.  When a group has a lot of power but no principals or accountability, it seems ripe to become the very thing that they decry.  Who knows if it will happen, but it does give me pause. 

In lighter news: I saw TWO Oscar Meyer Weinermobiles on the way home from work today.  How awesome is that?  They were just driving down the I-5.  Those things didn’t go too fast, but they were looking pretty nice.  But it makes me wonder how many Weinermobiles there are, and how often they’re replaced and why didn’t I have a hot dog for dinner? 

I generally like my iPhone and I’ve said that before. However, I can’t figure out the new iTunes.  They made it a lot less intuitive.  I’m sure they figure people would get it, but why would you do this?  These blunders are starting to become a trend.  It doesn’t amuse me. 

Speaking of tech blunders, check out this compilation of pictures/tweets from Qualcomm’s CES presentation.  For the people like my mom who are like “oh, I don’t care about that,” seriously, give it a chance.  It is amazing that such a thing exists; never mind was put on display at such a large, important event.  This presentation went off the rails long before it went on stage, but I wish I could have seen how this came about.  Anil Dash tweeted about this already, but there are just SO many components to this that boggle the mind.  What is the through line to begin with?  People are using cell phones?  They want different types of cell phones?  That makes sense, but there is so much crap trying to hang off this poor thesis it doesn’t make sense.  The supercut below is even more painful.  I will give it credit for one thing: I can’t tell if this is one man’s twisted idea or group planning gone awry.  While I suspect it is group planning, there must have been a few people that realized it was going off the rails.  How does this happen?

I guess I’m just asking a lot of questions today, while providing very few answers. I hope you weren’t expecting a lot of answers today.  That is it for tonight.  I’m looking forward to eating a burrito tomorrow.  It will be blog worthy I hope. 

This Is Simply a Mediocre Blog Entry

 I don’t have too much to say today, but I’m not sure when the next blog entry will be coming, so I figured I may as well write one up.

First: Football thoughts.  Pretty boring weekend.  There are numerous Redskins fans that read this, so I’m happy to say that I think that team won’t be horribly regressing next year.  They may not be “good,”  but it is the first time in forever that they have hope.  And that is enough.  None of the other teams really made an impression on me.  I’m not loving the Texans matchup for my team, but I’m looking forward to the game regardless. 

Another thing that I know nothing about is Downtown Abbey.  I know it is spelled Downton, but you should see the look on your face when you read I had spelled it Downtown.  I am finding I care less and less about TV shows, whether they’re good or bad.  This is a unique one though because it appears to be a super soap opera that is on PBS and takes place in olden times.  People I like on Twitter love it, so I feel subjected to it, even though I’m really not.  What does it all mean though?  Nothing.  If it is your jam, who am I to question it. 

I mentioned I’m not paying as much attention to TV as I used to.  So what am I doing?  Dumb stuff. 

I started reading Peter Criss’ book.  If you know who Peter Criss is, you really ought to get it going right now.  Seriously, it lives up to the hype.  If you know anything about the band Kiss, I think you ought to read it.  Also, if you’re a fan of ridiculous stories, this may be for you.  Otherwise, it isn’t for you.  That is okay though. 

I also got Tiger Woods Golf for my iPad.  What a silly but enthralling game.  I don’t like golf and I’m hooked.  What is it?  I think the simplicity of the game and the way it is set up.  The achievements in the game bring you back much more than so many other silly games.  I know, it is ridiculous and I’m embarrassed for myself.  But what the hell?  There is something to golf games, similar to hockey games,  that brings in people that don’t care about the sport to love it.  Anyway, it is a good time waster when you’re sitting around. 

This weekend I also made chicken stock.  Why?  Because I had a bunch of stuff that I could use to make it and also I figured why not?  This isn’t something that I NEED to do, but instead one of those doing it to enjoy the process type activities.  I can easily buy something similar to what I’m making for pennies, but I may as well throw this together and see what happens.  I think some of it is to justify using the whole chicken and that tries to make sense out of whatever the hell one’s diet is.  I think there are just so many options of stuff to eat and no one seems to ever be happy with how they look.  Putting some sort of structure or framework around it, being veganism, whole animal, super low calories or anything else is one of those big ideas things people do to apply some sanity to a large, overwhelming number of options.  Otherwise, the grocery store can be insanity. 

I appreciate almost every aspect of this Gerard Depardieu tax exile story.  If you’re not familiar, make yourself familiar. 

That is it for today.  I’m going to crash and wake up refreshed for the week ahead of me. 

 

The New Year: In Theory and In Practice

I am back to work and back to sitting at a computer (unwillingly) all day.  What does that mean?  My overactive imagination is now back to being stifled in exchange for a few bucks.  And that means that my blogging ought to pick up again. 

First up: back to work!  If you took time off and went back to work recently, you know how miserable it can be.  I didn’t do myself any favors either.  I managed to sleep an hour late (I vaguely remembered turning off my alarm,) then manage to make my coffee taste like dishwasher soap.  What the hell?  It doesn’t even make sense.  Besides that, it was a pretty low key return to the working world; I just hope yours was easier. 

My Christmas present from loyal reader NAVS arrived yesterday as well.  What was it?  A message that he got a wintab.  What is a wintab?  It is apparently a Windows Tablet.  If you’re not familiar, NAVS was quick to point out that it was “not a Surface.”  Too late!  The present had already been unwrapped.  If you’re like me, you’ve seen this annoying as hell commercial way too many times in the last month or so.  The idea of NAVS dancing around with a new Surface was too much to resist.  Whether it was NAVS’ head floating jib-jab style on a dancing school girl or just the idea of him dancing around (perhaps with a glass of strong drink and a cigarette dangling from his mouth) was the high point of the day.  And I assume it is my Christmas present from him.   If you don’t know NAVS, please insert your own “NAVS” into this scenario and picture a friend of yours dancing around in these commercials. 

Please, if I die tragically do not do this to me.   

I also had a revelation about what I actually want to do for my new year’s resolution and it can be summarized in one word: execute.  (Navs asked if it was small animals or women when I mentioned it to him.  It is neither.)  It is just when it comes time to do something, to do it.  Whether it is waking up on time, going to the gym, writing for your silly blog or anything else, it must simply be done.  I sometimes build up big thoughts about doing or not doing something that tend to distort how I really feel about it.  These are generally quite ridiculous and rarely helpful.  I’ve worked on not doing this, but it will creep back in sometimes.  Instead of building up “I should go to the gym” I just want to leave it alone and when it is time to go to the gym, go.  And in all other areas of my life, just do it.  This isn’t just for tasks either.  If you see something you want to do and you tend to equivocate and make excuses why you can’t, stop: execute.  Make the decision to treat yourself (or #treatyoself) well and do it.  I’m not saying live impulsively, but almost the opposite.  Do what you know you should be doing (unless you’re a sociopath;) perhaps that is going to the gym, dating, reaching out for help or helping someone.  Just make it happen already. 

Tangentially related, I saw this on Twitter and thought it was really interesting.  And true.  If your goal is to drop weight or something else that seems to have much different mental accounting, keep it in mind. 

Another thing that I found to be truly interesting was this interview with Robert Ben Garant from Riki Lindhome’s podcast.  If you want to make fun of this being at the nerd apogee, it is fine.  We’re dealing with a cute, funny girl talking to a dude from The State (which was for me similar to what Ms. Lindhome describes it as for her.)  Don’t let the fact that this is unique and show-businessy scare you off from listening.  Mr. Garant’s discussion of loving what you do is really interesting and inspirational.  I think there is something to just loving the grind of what you do.  I’ve often times found myself caught up in trying to get something done so then I can do something else or get something else.  Ultimately, this isn’t fulfilling because often times the thing you do you have control over, while the thing you want (a promotion, social status, etc.) you have no control over.  That means that you end up screwing yourself over twice as much if things don’t work out; because not only are you robbed of the feeling of accomplishment in the task you were doing you miss out on the thing you were striving for.  (This completely excludes the likely correlation between the two, but don’t even bother with that.) I thought this applied to not only work, but any New Years type resolution that you may be making to yourself.  If it is gym, dating, reading more, working less, etc. it needs to be an end in itself.  It can’t be something you want to do to get to something else, it’ll never work.   Whether in Mr. Garant’s case it truly is art for art’s sake, or something else for its own sake, keep that in mind next time you start spinning you wheels about a goal. 

Thought of something I just executed recently.  I always say “I should drive to the Cape for the day” when I’m at home and my family is out and about.  Instead of saying it and not doing it, I did it.  It was great.  So were the clams I had for lunch. 

I think that is it for now.  I’ll rant about how I’m becoming a fan of Tiger Woods’ iPad golf game another time; there is much to be covered. 
Anyway, that is all for tonight.  I hope everyone is doing well in the New Year.