Onward we go in my relentless celebration of authenticity ...this time I'm
going a bit cerebral and experience based. As we all know, the way we read,
listen, and speak are shifting constructs these days. With this I'm cool,
but let's talk about what makes an experience not just intellectual but
visceral in terms of information, music, novels, and talking...here's my
picks for today: VINYL- To me, there is no greater joy than waking up on a weekend morning
and playing some records while I start my day. Classic vinyl sounds amazing,
gives you some street cred as a music lover, and is a great accompaniment to
coffee and breakfast making. Shopping for vinyl is also way fulfilling-
digging through old records is one of my pure pleasures. Right now I'm
hearting old reggae records, particularly of the Trojan era as well as old
Charlie Chaplin. But I ain't mad at some Faces or classic soul a la Aretha
or even Tattoo You. Trust me- acquiring and listening to vinyl will enhance
your life and make you a better person.(If you are asking "what is vinyl?"
at this point, you should stop reading). THE SUNDAY NEW YORK TIMES- yes, a bit of a cliché. I know this. But when
that little bundle of printed joy comes to my doorstep Sunday morning, I am
well aware of the task at hand- as in, how can I read this paper today when
I have so much to do? Inevitably I find the time, but I love the challenge
it provides- it forces me to park my carcass on the sofa and absorb the
world, one article at a time. I still like to hold the paper and page
through, section after section until I've created a fire hazard on my floor.
(Sunday Styles first, natch). Sunday night always feels a little smarter to
me, and for this I am grateful. (Yes I am aware this item is on the list of
stuff white people like. I can live with that). CLASSIC LIT- I am not going to pretend that I have the wherewithal or
attention span to sit down and snack on a good book these days. It's a
bummer, but seems the only time I can absorb a novel is en route to some
other place- the Miami to LA flight provides some choice hours for said
activity. I will say I love to revisit the classics when I can- two summers
ago we spent my birthday in Key West and I promised myself to get through as
much Hemingway as I could for the rest of the summer. (I read "The Sun Also
Rises" in the car ride home and then quit my endeavor after "A Farewell to
Arms". Some of you out there are scoffing as I write- I know how you true
lit types feel about Hemingway and his misogyny and machismo.) Still, it was
lovely to rediscover Ernie after all these years. This summer I may reread
Thackeray's "Vanity Fair", one of my favs from yesteryear. I also am going
to pick up some De Maupassant short stories as they make my heart sing. Do
yourself a favor and hit the classics this summer. Word on the street is
that Fitzgerald guy really had something... EXPLETIVES- Not sure how this fits the list, but I've been yakking about
some higher brow stuff, so let's go low now and talk about cursing. My love
for profanity is powerful. I have always found swear words to be the most
expressive words we have- much the same reason I fucking love Yiddish- all
the words sound like what they mean, and I adore that. In New York, this is
a non issue. Everybody curses. In other parts of the country, it's not as
prevalent, but often more necessary (have you ever driven in Miami? Ok
then). People should curse more. It builds character and is a potent means
of expression. I simply don't trust a woman (or anyone else for that matter)
that doesn't say "fuck". And that's a fact. Use these bon mots with purpose
and choose them carefully so they can have their full effect. Unless you
step on a nail- then whatever comes out comes out, and that's real (and
"FML" is just not going to cut it). So that's all for today...enjoy your afternoon- read something. Listen to
something. Be bold in your choices. And swear your ass off and be sincere
about it. It's what's real this Wednesday.
going a bit cerebral and experience based. As we all know, the way we read,
listen, and speak are shifting constructs these days. With this I'm cool,
but let's talk about what makes an experience not just intellectual but
visceral in terms of information, music, novels, and talking...here's my
picks for today: VINYL- To me, there is no greater joy than waking up on a weekend morning
and playing some records while I start my day. Classic vinyl sounds amazing,
gives you some street cred as a music lover, and is a great accompaniment to
coffee and breakfast making. Shopping for vinyl is also way fulfilling-
digging through old records is one of my pure pleasures. Right now I'm
hearting old reggae records, particularly of the Trojan era as well as old
Charlie Chaplin. But I ain't mad at some Faces or classic soul a la Aretha
or even Tattoo You. Trust me- acquiring and listening to vinyl will enhance
your life and make you a better person.(If you are asking "what is vinyl?"
at this point, you should stop reading). THE SUNDAY NEW YORK TIMES- yes, a bit of a cliché. I know this. But when
that little bundle of printed joy comes to my doorstep Sunday morning, I am
well aware of the task at hand- as in, how can I read this paper today when
I have so much to do? Inevitably I find the time, but I love the challenge
it provides- it forces me to park my carcass on the sofa and absorb the
world, one article at a time. I still like to hold the paper and page
through, section after section until I've created a fire hazard on my floor.
(Sunday Styles first, natch). Sunday night always feels a little smarter to
me, and for this I am grateful. (Yes I am aware this item is on the list of
stuff white people like. I can live with that). CLASSIC LIT- I am not going to pretend that I have the wherewithal or
attention span to sit down and snack on a good book these days. It's a
bummer, but seems the only time I can absorb a novel is en route to some
other place- the Miami to LA flight provides some choice hours for said
activity. I will say I love to revisit the classics when I can- two summers
ago we spent my birthday in Key West and I promised myself to get through as
much Hemingway as I could for the rest of the summer. (I read "The Sun Also
Rises" in the car ride home and then quit my endeavor after "A Farewell to
Arms". Some of you out there are scoffing as I write- I know how you true
lit types feel about Hemingway and his misogyny and machismo.) Still, it was
lovely to rediscover Ernie after all these years. This summer I may reread
Thackeray's "Vanity Fair", one of my favs from yesteryear. I also am going
to pick up some De Maupassant short stories as they make my heart sing. Do
yourself a favor and hit the classics this summer. Word on the street is
that Fitzgerald guy really had something... EXPLETIVES- Not sure how this fits the list, but I've been yakking about
some higher brow stuff, so let's go low now and talk about cursing. My love
for profanity is powerful. I have always found swear words to be the most
expressive words we have- much the same reason I fucking love Yiddish- all
the words sound like what they mean, and I adore that. In New York, this is
a non issue. Everybody curses. In other parts of the country, it's not as
prevalent, but often more necessary (have you ever driven in Miami? Ok
then). People should curse more. It builds character and is a potent means
of expression. I simply don't trust a woman (or anyone else for that matter)
that doesn't say "fuck". And that's a fact. Use these bon mots with purpose
and choose them carefully so they can have their full effect. Unless you
step on a nail- then whatever comes out comes out, and that's real (and
"FML" is just not going to cut it). So that's all for today...enjoy your afternoon- read something. Listen to
something. Be bold in your choices. And swear your ass off and be sincere
about it. It's what's real this Wednesday.
