Monday, August 18, 2008

Brett Favre should tear a few ligaments during the next Jets game.


Just came back from a weekend in the heartland: Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, in Milwaukee. Good to see the sis and bro-in-law, and tons of fun seeing the rest of the family on the Schmidt/Phillips side. A few key lessons and takeaways from a weekend in Wisconsin.

1. Do not ever root for a team other than the Packers, especially during a Packer game when in the company of children raised in Packer country. Seems fairly intuitive, no? I guess I just didn't know how deep the well ran where Packer love is concerned. These kids looked at me like I was insane. Not like your garden-variety "oh whatever, (insert opposing team's name here) sucks!" It was like they just could not process how a person who was not a Packer fan was actually let in the house. I hope they weren't too traumatized with my cheering for the 49ers. Note to self: rooting against the Packers is up there between murder and adultery on the tablets. The shit is Real, folks.

2. Cocktails are tasty in the heartland. I loved the Moscow Mule, the Dark n' Stormy, and of course, the Old Fashioned. All very good!! Watch out cuz I've got the recipes.

3. Fish Fry is an important event/dish. It's like a Dishevent. I now basically see it as one of the major food groups.

4. When they say they have had 400 feet of snow, it doesn't really matter if it's cumulative or not, does it?

To little Monroe and Irene:
I LOVE THE PACKERS!

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Upon reflection of the sabbatical

Those who know me would not describe me as having crunchy tendencies, nor would they know me to indulge in any mind-altering substances (in post-college life, at least). However the phrase "Tune in, turn on, and drop out" has been on my mind of late, humming at the base level (I've successfully ignored the hippy connotations). I have entered a phase that has clarified one thing to me: I need a sabbatical. Not a vacation, no: a true, deliberate, purposeful removal from my present pace. I've been uttering this phrase repeatedly in the last few weeks: "Work is really cramping my lifestyle"--and it's true. A little wikipedia'ing yielded Timothy Leary's definition of TITNDO; very apt, in my case:

"'Turn on' meant go within to activate your neural and genetic equipment. Become sensitive to the many and various levels of consciousness and the specific triggers that engage them. 'Tune in' meant interact harmoniously with the world around you - externalize, materialize, express your new internal perspectives. Drop out suggested an elective, selective, graceful process of detachment from involuntary or unconscious commitments. 'Drop Out' meant self-reliance, a discovery of one's singularity, a commitment to mobility, choice, and change."
(Leary goes on to say "unhappily my explanations of this sequence of personal development were often misinterpreted to mean 'Get stoned and abandon all constructive activity'". I wonder why, Tim?)

I'm not interested in rest from burnout. I'm ready to create new output. Do I need to be a 60 year-old tenured professor to have a sabbatical? Must I have achieved some pre-determined career success or breakdown to earn this? Do I need a desert or a mountain peak to achieve this? I don't think so. So internets, I am going to start "Sabbatical Weekends" in my life, once a month. Unless and until I reach the greatest leverage point, DESPERATION, I shall institute this faithfully, beginning today. Criteria to be determined. When I can get a break.

Here's today's cool thing:
Hug your sorrow plush tears! Woot! Having a bad day? Misery loves company! Plush tears. YES.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Dynamo Donut

Uh, I just had a farking awesome doughnut. No, for realz. I almost can't write about it. The darn thing lived up to the hype.

Before going out to Dillon Beach today, we went to get some fried pieces of goodness at a Dynamo Donut on 24th in the Mission. This is what I had, the chocolate spiced doughnut:

Mmkay. Some of the thoughts that ran through my mind while eating it:

Mexican chocolate.
Cinnamon.
Chile powder.
Crisp edges.
Moist.
Not too rich.
Rich.
Better than cake.
Better than doughnut.
Rainbows.
Kitty cats.
Dreams.

LOVED! Go get 'em. Look for the wall-wide, streetfront pickup window. Hip vibe but the counter folks are very sweet. Didn't have the coffee (cuz I was drinking my favorite chai) but I hear it's up there with the best of 'em. Damn good execution, folks!

Dynamo Donut
2760 24th St
(between Hampshire St & York St)