I Enjoy Writing

I enjoy writing. I write stories. I write every day in journals. I write weekly blogs. I write endless emails. I write book and article reviews. I write academic research papers. I have books that I have written both fiction and nonfiction that I have not published. I wrote them because I love to write. But, writing isn't just about enjoyment. It is about organizing your thoughts, reflecting on your life, and communicating ideas to others.

All of us have stuff going on inside of us all the time. There are thoughts, feelings, reactions, insights, hopes, desires, great ideas, misunderstanding, fantasies, paranoid delusions, and so on. If we just let these things ricochet around our psyche our internal condition becomes more like a compose heap than a well defined self.

We like to organize these bits of psychic energy into coherent thoughts and externalize them for the purposes of validation. That is, we want to externalize our internal states so others can look at them and tell us that we are not crazy.

The most common way to do this is simply by talking to others. There is a reason why people like to talk. Some talk on the phone. Some talk face to face to friends. Others pay professionals to talk to them. But, we need to talk. Talking helps us sort through our compost heap we call the self and turn it into a garden we call the persona.

Not everybody likes to talk. Some people wish to pretend they don't have a compost heap. Others find different ways in which to reveal it for validation. Some people do it though art. Some through music. Others will find alternative artistic outlets like crafts or cooking. When you see somebody's art or listen to their music, you are experiencing their internal struggles. And when you eat somebody's cooking... well we don't want to put too fine a point on it.

And, of course, there are those who will choose writing. Some will text or email. Others write notes. Some write journals or diaries, blogs, websites or paper articles. Some will write stories or essays. Others will write books. But, writing is a very special way of sorting ourselves out. It is precise and disciplined. We have to know what we want to say and work it into a recognizable structure. Once something is written it becomes real. It becomes sorted. It starts to make sense. 

So, here are four benefits of writing: 1) It allows you to ventilate, 2) It allows you to organize your thoughts, 3) It allows you communicate with others, and 4) It is a form of creative expression that can be very satisfying.

And that is why I enjoy writing. 

I Like Some Unusual Things for Unusual Reasons

People often like things because they feel that they should. Some people really do like things and don't know why. In this post, and a few subsequent posts, I am going to mention a few of the more unusual things that I like and the unusual reasons why I like them. I will follow up with more detailed explanations in the future posts. In this post I will just provide some teasers.

I enjoy writing. I write every day in journals. I write weekly blogs. I write endless emails. I write book and article reviews. I write academic research papers. But, writing isn't just about enjoyment. It is about organizing your thoughts, reflecting on your life, and communicating ideas to others.

I enjoy listening to recorded books. I am a very slow reader for some reason and having a short attention span, it is difficult to sit for hours to read a book. But, I listen to books while walking, hiking or driving in the car. And in those situations, I can listen for hours.

I spend a lot of time on the C and O Canal. It is good exercise and an opportunity to enjoy nature. But, it is so much more. It is a place where you can get some perspective on life.

I enjoy jigsaw puzzles. They exercise your cognitive abilities for pattern recognition and spatial thinking. They area flow experience. They can be used as a form of meditation. And, when you finish one, they provide a great level of satisfaction.

I enjoy video games. Lately most of my focus has been on World of Warcraft. Not only is it a great deal of fun, but it provide benefits far beyond just being fun. It sharpens your mind, provides the mental exercise necessary to forestall mental decline with age, and you learn a lot of valuable skills such as strategy, decision making, and problem solving that are useful in other aspects of your life.

Lately, I have discovered and become fascinated with graphic novels. This is one of those things that people will snicker about until they wake up one day and realize they have changed the world in significant ways.

The common thread here is that these are all things that one could enjoy just for the sake of enjoyment. But, when something you enjoy also provides important other benefits as well it becomes a double win.

I Like Cooking

Cooking is a great pleasure that is not fully enjoyed by far too many people. Many people just don't have the time or the inclination. Traditionally, lot of men have never learned how to cook; and a lot of women have had to cook creating the sense that cooking is a chore or an obligation rather than a pleasure to pursue. I realize that gender roles are changing and don't wish to reinforce stereotypes here. But the point is that far to few people experience the joys of cooking some for traditional reasons and some for more modern reasons.

Cooking is a design activity and a creative endeavor. You are actually making something. And, you are making something of value. Perhaps you find creative satisfaction in photography, sketching or writing. Getting someone to look at your sketches or read your stories can be a challenge. But, if you create savory dishes, it is no problem finding people to enjoy them.

I think my approach to cooking is a little different from others, although, for all I know, it could be that everybody does it exactly the same. I don't follow recipes. I  try things. I will look at recipes for ideas. But, when it comes right down to it, I just try something and see how it comes out. Some times it does. Rarely is it inedible. So the food rarely goes to waste. But, some times it falls short. It isn't as good as it can be. When that happens, I try to figure out what I did wrong and what I should do differently next time. I call it experimental cooking. And when I am cooking for others, I try to limit the novelty of the experiment.

It is fun to go to a restaurant, find a dish you like, and then try to replicate it at home. It is fun to come up with an idea, try it out and see what happens. I have books on the science of cooking so I can gain a deeper understanding of exactly what is going on and how I can achieve different results.

I think there are three primary benefits to experimental cooking: First, it is a creative outlet which provides the same creative satisfaction that other creative outlets provide. Second, it is an excellent core for social activities. You may not get people to come over to your home to enjoy your sketches. But, invite them for a tasty dinner and they will be there. Third, when you cook things yourself you know exactly what is is going into the food you eat and you have much greater control over your dietary intake.

It is sad that so many people see cooking as a task that you have to do rather than a pleasure that you might want to do.

I Like Single Malt Scotch

Single Malt Scotch is not only a treasure in its own right, but a metaphor for life as well. However, before we get into that, let's first, look at some etymology. Distilled spirits, in the Middle Ages, were referred to as aqua vitae which is Latin for water of life. A little alcohol does make one feel a bit more lively. So, the name is not surprising. As the Romans penetrated into the British Isles, aqua vitae got translated into Celtic as uisge beatha again water (uisge) of life (beatha). Uisge (pronounced, roughly, as oose-gay) came down to us as whiskey. For reasons that may be obvious to some, but are opaque to me, whiskeys in the British Isle took on names from their countries of origin (Irish Whiskey and Scotch Whisky) while American whiskeys are named for ingredients such as Bourbon (corn whiskey) and Rye Whiskey. I also have no idea why there is an 'e' in Irish and American Whiskey but no 'e' in Scotch Whisky. 

As distilling evolved, something happened in Scotland that can only be described as magical. As in the valleys of southern France where soil and weather conditions produced grapes ideal for wine making, the raw materials of Scotland produced peat for roasting barley which made it ideal for making scotch. In fairness, I should point out that ideal conditions are not enough. In France it was the vintner's art applied to the ideal grapes which produces extraordinary wines. And in Scotland, it is the distiller's art applied to peat roasted barley which produces extraordinary scotches. 

Following the wine analogy we can see another parallel with scotch.  wines can be varietals or blends. Varietals are usually named after the grape variety from which they are made. So, a Chardonnay is made from Chardonnay grapes where as Pinot Noir is made from pinot noir grapes. If a wine is not named after a grape, it is usually (although not always) a blend. Varietals tend to bring out the flavor of a specific grape more clearly where as blends allow different flavors to compliment each other. Whether a varietal or blend is a superior wine is difficult to say as there are plenty of extraordinary wines as well as clunkers in both categories. This lack of clarity is not usually the case with scotch. 

Scotch is made from malted barley which produces alcohol much like fermented grapes produce alcohol. The process is a bit different but the result, in both cases, is tasty alcohol. And the tastiness is a result of the ingredients and the fermentation process. Scotches follow the same dichotomy that wines follow in that there are single malt scotches (like varietal wines) and blended scotches (like blended wines). Some of the most successful scotches such as Johnny Walker and Chivas Regal are blends. Blending scotches allows the distiller to compliment flavors from various malts in order to produce a more palatable product. But, connoisseurs of scotch nearly always prefer single malts. Why is that?

Single malts provide more intense, unique flavors. Unlike blended scotches where the various flavors round out each other, the flavors in a single malt and well defined and more pronounced. The down side of this is that one must develop a refined pallet in order to really appreciate a good single malt.

The first time I took a sip of Laphroaig (pronounced Lah-froyg) I almost spit it out. It tasted like somebody had taken a mediocre scotch, thrown in a half dozen used cigar butts and let it sit for a week. I was even angry at the person who had recommended it. But, over time as my pallet became more refined, I began to appreciate the complex symphony of flavors. I like the symphony analogy because it a person who had never heard music were to listen to a symphony they would be over whelmed with what would sound to them like a cacophony of random noises. But, over time, as their ear became more refined, they would begin to appreciate the beauty and complexity of the music.

This is how it is with single malt scotches. It takes work to develop a refined palette. But, once you do, the taste experience can only be understood by some one else who has invested the time to develop the necessary refinement. I think single malt scotches are the finest tasting experience on the planet. Granted, I am not entirely objective. There may well be wines that offer a similar experience. But, if there are, I cannot afford them let alone afford enough to develop the refined pallet necessary to enjoy them. So, for my budget, they simply do not exist.

I also said, at the beginning of this post, that single malts are a metaphor for life. As the tired old saying goes, you get out of it what you put into it. But the underlying metaphorical theme here is that most of the great pleasures in life take great effort and refinement to fully enjoy. Think art, opera, theater, culinary delights, and so on, as examples of things that you might not appreciate at first. But, once you learn to appreciate them, you allow yourself profound experiences of joy that cannot be understood by anyone who has not made the effort.

Lest I sound too elitist here, I would also point out that not everyone experiences the same level of appreciation watching a baseball game, horse race, or golf match. Not everyone gets the same level of enjoyment out of a book or a movie. The more you learn about what is to be appreciated by these things the more you will enjoy them.

I Like Big Bang Theory

Every decade or so a major sit com (situation comedy) comes along that captures not only an audience but the imagination of the audience as well. Examples include shows like Odd Couple, Mash, Seinfeld, Friends and, now Big Bang Theory. To the comedy purists I should note that I am aware of the fact that Big Bang Theory uses a laugh track and has both a formula and an ensemble cast. I am also aware of the fact that these are considered ear marks of a cheesy TV sit com. In fact this formula was satirized by Ricky Gervais in Extras. I agree that formula TV sit coms are not generally the height of comedy. But, some times they are and here are some reasons why Big Bang Theory rises above the clutter.

First, the characters are archetypes. We have all known people like the characters in the show. But, these characters are both larger than life and self contradictory. Viewers can both relate, at some level, to each character but they can also relate to the others that the character irritates. If it were a standard ensemble viewers would side with a character while disliking others. But, due to the clever character construction there are things we like and dislike about each character.

Second, they are not only funny but they resonate with the audience. Following the archetypes theme in the previous paragraph, the characters resonate with the audience. We not only recognize people we have known, we recognize aspects of ourselves. And, in recognizing ourselves we can gain insight into our conflicts and sublimate our concerns.

Third, they allow the audience to laugh at themselves as much as they laugh at the characters. Some times all you do when faced with the complexity and unfairness of life is to laugh at the human condition. As we laugh at the characters in the cast we also laugh at ourselves.

Fourth, the comedy is both universal and unique to a moment in time. One of the strengths of the show is that it works at multiple levels. There are universal themes instantiated in the moment. The instantiation in the moment makes it relevant while the universality makes it more enduring.

Of course, the writing is excellent. This is not to say that the acting isn't good. It is. Making these larger than life archetypes is no small feat. But, without the excellent writing there would be nothing to reveal through the characters.

Sixth, the story has legs and the legs are used. Some people feel that serial TV shows should never run more than a few seasons as the story gets stale and forced. But, the secret is to have the characters evolve so they face new situations. This is tricky since we like the show because we know the characters. If they evolve into different characters we might not like them as much. So, the writers walk a fine line between having the characters grow and evolve without making them unrecognizable in the process. So, far they have managed to pull it off. There is a natural entropy in a series show and so far the writers have managed to stave it off.

Seventh, the cast has a natural chemisttry. Three of the cast worked together on the Rosanne Show and already had a working relationship. But there relationships are not the main story. So, you get the benefits of their experience without having it over shadow the new show. 

Finally, they fold in cameos from big name actors which provides a stamp of authenticity. It is an honor, for example, to have Bob Newhart on the show. But it is an honor for Bob Newhart as well. There has been a parade of cameos as big name characters honor the show and receive honor as well. This removes the isolation of sit com in a studio and integrates it into the reality of daily life. This in turn increases the resonance and excitement of the show.

Yes, they have done a wonderful job.

I Like Downton Abbey... A Lot

Like tens or even hundreds of millions of other people across the globe I am a loyal fan of Downton Abbey. Some of the reasons for this are no different from the other fans. Other reasons might be less common.

Superficially, the visual experience is extraordinary. The costumes, main house, and grounds are breath taking. And the trips to the village just add to the authenticity. Who ever is responsible for period authenticity does an amazing job. One one hand it feels as educational as a documentary, yet, on the other hand, it never feels arcane or strange. You feel like your television is a time machine into days gone by where you are as comfortable and familiar as you are on the sofa where you are sitting to watch the show.

The actors are extraordinary as well. They bring these characters to life so well that you feel as though you know them, perhaps even as though you have always known them. But, for me, an important measure of good acting is that you think  the actors and actresses are really like this character in real life. Then you see one of them in an interview, where they are very different, and then realize what a truly amazing job they are doing with their character.

The writing deserves kudos as well. In fact, if it weren't for the excellent writing the other components would not come together. At bottom Downton Abbey is a soap opera. Its purpose is to emotionally engage the viewers into the lives and travails of the characters. But, what separates Downton Abbey from afternoon soap operas is that the afternoon poor cousins are usually heavy handed and formulaic brutally extracting unrefined pathos from an unwashed audience. But the emotional complications in Downton Abbey are subtle, sophisticated, and nearly always instances of larger issues. And, on that note of larger issues, I will turn to the of the deeper reasons why I like the show.

The characters of Downton Abbey, despite the grandeur, costumes and quaintness are people just like you and I. One of the greatest accomplishments of the actors and the writers is to make us feel like we know about these people and care about them. The problems they are facing are problems that we face today. They are coping with change. They are often pinched by social roles. They often pinch back. They have to adjust to new technologies. They have to cope with the ugliness of war.  They are people wresting with the eternal problems of the human condition and we can relate to their struggles. But, it isn't all big issues. There is unrequited love. There are serious and painful losses of a loved one. Society is unfair; yet it works better for some while not as well for others. And it isn't perfect for anyone. 

Maggie Smith won a well deserved award from the Screen Actor's Guild last night for her role as the Dowager Countess. She is, at once, the very symbol of the old order and its most cynical and insightful critic.In reacting to the other characters she provides equal amounts of stern rebuke and comforting solace. And, yet, despite the complexity and contradictory aspects of this character she pulls it off as though it is as natural as a walk on the beach. 

This is good stuff. Some day it will end and I will be very sad.

What Do I LIke ?

If you have been reading this blog for a while and hearing me bitch about all manner of things, you might wonder if there is anything I do like. The truth is that there are a lot of things that I like and I thought that now might be a good time to point some of them out lest I be dismissed entirely as a cranky old curmudgeon. I am just going to provide a list of things I like here. But, in subsequent posts I will explain what I like about them. This second step is important because a lot of people think that liking something is good enough. According to them, you don't have to know why you like it, you just like it. But, that is not good enough for me. I have to know why I like something lest I find myself liking something that I don't really like. Yes, life gets complicated for me. And I recognize the fact that there are compelling arguments in favor of the unexamined life. But, before I digress on that, here are some things I like.

I like books. I like history. I like movies and TV. I like recorded books and lectures. I like  sushi. I like single malt scotch. I like good beer. I like teaching. I like people (Well, not very  many really. But the one's I like, I like a lot) I like World of Warcraft. I like waking, hiking and biking. I like the C&O Canal. I like cooking.I like kids. I like students. I like new ideas. I like learning new things. I like detecting new trends. I like finding patterns in things that don't seem to make sense. I like cats and dogs and reliable cars. I like Sudoku and jigsaw puzzles. I like figuring out how things got to be the way they are. I like the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian. I like people who are clever, creative or know what they are talking about. All three are rare and if they all occur in one person it is scarey.

Over the next few posts and more sporadically after that, I will explain why I like these things. After all, the unexamined like is not worth liking.