Thinking small

I hate politics.  I really do. 

It brings out the contrary side of my nature; you know, that teenager-like side that refuses to agree with your parents no matter what they say? 

It gives the undeserving far more than their alloted 15 minutes of fame.   Oooh, here's a new rule that will solve our budget issues in a few months - politicians (and pundits) who get more than 15 minutes of fame should be taxed for the excess. 

It forces us to distill hugely complex problems into tweets/soundbites, which are decidedly not helpful.  For example, from the right: Obama sucks.  From the left: Republicans suck.  From the middle: WTF is going on?

I spend a lot of time (too much) thinking about these issues on a macro level, worrying about lofty things like "society" and "our culture."  (Especially when egged on by my dad, who delights in forwarding me emails that he knows will get my blood pressure up.  :)  ) I'm not sure why I do this.  I'm not a politician, academic, journalist or celebrity foster mom.  I'm just a gal from rural NH with delusions of grandeur.  Clearly, I am blessed to have the time for this kind of thought; after all, I'm not out hunting boar or building a shack from pine needles. 

Today in a meeting, I was expressing that I simply could not figure out how to take a large map of available parking and shrink it down to a business card size.  I have been trying for weeks and can't seem to make it work in my head.  It's a mental block, and it's ridiculous.  I can whip out a 34 page brochure like nobody's business, but this little project is confounding me.  One of my staff sweetly and jokingly said "You just can't think small."  We all laughed, but I think she's on to something. 

Here are the facts:

I have one vote.

I am not a lobbyist.

I am not a lawmaker.  

I am not a thought leader.  There are probably 8 people who read this blog.  (and I love each and every one of you!)

These facts clearly illustrate that I will not change the world anytime soon.  I think it's time to go back to striving for smaller victories.  Time to use the brains and skills I've acquired to do some fruitful and useful work, instead of obsessing over faulty forwarded emails and the infuriating genius of Fox News. Time to focus in on what I actually have the power to change. 

And unfortunately, time to realize that changing my dad's mind about politics is a bigger job than I can handle, one that might require lobbyists.  Love ya, Dad, even if you are misguided.  :)

(addendum: while search for a funny photo/image to post with this entry, I came across these two books, which brightened my mood considerably.  I think I know what I'm getting my Dad for Christmas. Both are available on Amazon.com) 

        

Musings on trademarks and writing for TV, among other things...

I began this entry yesterday, and left it because it felt a little too "first-world-issues" for me.  But after a day of reflection, I've decided to publish it anyway, with a little addendum. 

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Today began with reading in the editorial section of our local paper that the phrase "We didn't come to paint" is being trademarked by the University of Arkansas Athletic department so they can make t-shirts and assorted schwag with it.  Apparently the football coach coined this phrase (or borrowed it from a colleague) in reference to what they (the team) DID come to do (win in ballsy fashion).  Apparently painting = not winning.   Nice metaphor for our society's dismissal of creativity.  And before anyone groans and gives me crap for being overly sensitive and elitist, allow me to assure you that I know that football raises billions of dollars for the university and art, well, doesn't.  But seriously, why couldn't he pick on gardening or knitting? Those would work too if we must have another t-shirt.

Ah well, I suppose if that's all I have to worry about today, I'm doing fine, considering that Britain is burning and thousands are starving in Africa.

In other news, and speaking of football, I've become a bit obsessed with Friday Night Lights (thank you, streaming Netflix).  In addition to enjoying the soap-operatic dramatics of this tale of Texas football (which in the 2nd season doesn't have much football going on), I've discovered a key to successful TV writing; make like your characters don't have phones.  It's WAY more interesting to have a horny teenager knock on a fellow horny teenager's front door to ask the former if she would like to go to the dance with the latter, or to apologize for a fistfight in the cafeteria or some such.  These folks could definitely use the phone for these interactions, but a) that's no fun, and b) those characters need the exercise so they can stay chiseled and sexy.

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Present day addendum

It rained today, and the temperature has dropped about 25 degrees.  It's blissful.  I couldn't bring myself to use an umbrella, and I couldn't help but wish for my isolated backyard in NH where I used to run outside in a sports bra and stand in the rain like Tim Robbins in Shawshank Redemption, face tipped up to the water.  With the cooler temps, and a few trees that have been baked by the sun, it nearly feels like autumn.  Except it's barely August.  Weird weather world we live in these days.

I've gotten into the habit of nighttime walks with Sadie since the heat made them a necessity, so tonight, even thought it was a cool evening, we went out late. It was a beautiful, but unsettling night, which seems appropriate for me right now.  A bright 2/3 moon, stars, racing clouds and lightening all around, 360 degrees of it, like being in a planetarium.  People always say "you could smell the ozone", which never quite makes sense to me (what does ozone smell like, really?), but something in the air frizzed the hell out of my hair and had my senses on edge.  I was glad to find my way into the relative safe haven of my house. 

Yet at the same time, I wanted to just stand in the middle of it and let whatever was brewing happen in a flash of lightening and smoke at my feet.  Maybe it would have revealed something I'm waiting to discover. 

Or maybe I'm trying to make my life into a fantasy novel. 

Who knows.  But the moment has passed.  The dog is curled up on the chair, and I'm procrastinating heading to bed, knowing how hard it's been to fall asleep lately. 

Time to give it a try.  Sweet dreams to all.

Schadenfreude, diets and wanderlust: It's a random thought kind of night

Random thought #1

Ok, I know it's completely uncharitable to take solace in the misfortune of others. It generally leads to bad karma.  I try not to (unless the person is a real jerk who completely deserves it, of course).  For example, while golfing the other day (and achieving my first par of the summer), my friend and I made lots of fun of the guys ahead of us who couldn't hit the ball to save their lives.  We paid for it, though, in those final 7 holes of missed shots and generally suckiness of play. 

So it's with some shame that I just have to share this image of the back of a script I was reading recently:

If you look closely, you will see not one but two editing errors in those last two quotes.  As someone who sweats bullets and loses sleep over the proofing process of a major publication, I can't help but be slightly in awe of whatever editor let this book go to print with those errors.  And I hang my head at how relieved I was when I saw that someone else had screwed up worse than I.  

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Random thought #2

Losing weight is hard.  If it was easy, we wouldn't be a nation of obese people.  I really hate how much you have to pay attention to your food choices in order to make any kind of progress.  It feels like every meal, every single thing you buy or even think about buying has to be scrutinized and analyzed, thus sucking every drop of taste and enjoyment out of the food.  And even then, it's hard.  For example, I KNOW that eating in the evening is worst way to lose weight.  I know this.  It's proven.  Yet, I really, really wanted that ice cream cone as I drove home from returning a movie tonight.  It's 100 frickin' degrees out at 9pm, and has been for weeks!  It's summer.  The Sonic is RIGHT THERE.  It's only .99.  For two miles I wrestled with myself, and I won.  And now here I sit, drinking my crystal-lite-flavored water and still really wanting that ice cream cone.  My small moral victory doesn't feel very victorious, especially since I know I will just have to do the same thing tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after, for months, and even then, there's no guarantee it will work, because I will probably miscount some other food I eat on those same days.  Blergh.  Pass the chips.  (just kidding)

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Random thought #3

A friend told me a few weeks back, after hearing me whine about wanting to travel (and not just to see family and friends), that I need an adventure, not a vacation.  I've been mulling that over; it's a fairly profound thought for facebook chat.  :) This same friend travels constantly, and I envy that, but I know I couldn't do it all the time.  I like my house, and having a dog, and a job and friends whom I see every week.  (Not to mention traveling is an expensive habit!)  But still, there's something to be said for going somewhere just for the sake of going.   It's harder to do this when you're single; your married/coupled up friends would much rather vacation with their family and fellow couples than come on an adventure with you.  But then, I suppose it might also be easier; after all, we singletons don't have to worry about family activities or pulling kids/spouses out of work.  Yet, I think it takes some guts to travel to a new place alone.  I did it last summer, and while it was fun, I had to psych myself up for it.  But then again, really, it comes down to determination.  I guess, like usual, I just need to get off my ass, quit complaining, and do something. 

Anyone wanna go bungee jumping in New Zealand this weekend?