Fiction Fridays: On the Road as the Counterculture's Megaphone

I just spent a few days in New Orleans (my first visit!) and the bohemian culture got me thinking about Jack Kerouac and the Beat culture. I am always impressed with anyone or idea that fits into the counterculture criteria, and Kerouac is one of those people.

Although he seemed to be scared, confused, unsure of himself, and sometimes a plain mess, Kerouac was sure that he did not want a mainstream, normal life. On the Road represents a type of freedom that most people will never experience, and this dedication to making his own way is admirable.

On the Road embodies the anti-American Dream: no roots, no structure, no worrying about retirement or the distant future. On the Road focuses on today, this moment, right now and demands that you start soaking up your life in the same way and take those big adventures and risks or you will exist unfulfilled and unsatisfied.

I read On the Road when I was working for a tyrant of a boss and at many stopping points in my reading I thought about just walking out--life was too precious to waste working for a complete chauvinistic, disrespectful pig of a man. This book made me want to revolt against my own life, and several months later, I did, vowing to never work for a horrible person again (or, at least promising myself I would get out sooner if I discovered I was working for a horrible person).

The energy, mania, and completely uninterested attitude of the characters in what society expected of them wanted me to make my own way, too. I wanted to stay up all night drinking and diving into all-important philosophical questions and try to solve all the world's problems. I wanted to jump in a car and drive across the country. I wanted to have a complete disregard for what other's thought and do what felt right for me.

Although I didn't immediately do any of these things, On the Road has stayed with me and has served as a whispering reminder to take risks, jump at opportunities, and attack the day with eyes and heart wide open. Although the characters in On the Road definitely lack direction and purpose at times, their obsession with creativity, living in the moment, and disregarding expectations remain the takeaways.

I am eagerly awaiting the latest movie adaptation of the On the Road movie, due for release in 2012.

Tune Thursdays: The Magic Rocks Continue to Grow

Savannah Morning News "Music Matters" article for September 29, 2011:

The Magic Rocks

Writer Wednesdays: Jon Stewart's 9-Time Winning Writing Team (And the Man Himself)

An excellent example of Stewart's brilliance came last week when he interviewed Governor Daniels from Indiana. Stewart was excited to have Daniels on because he was a fiscally responsible Republican who boasted that he wanted to use the language of unity. Yet, Daniels put down Democrats and Obama throughout the interview using common rhetoric. Stewart called Daniels out: "You just said that the President is obsessed with rich people, he wants to confiscate rich people's money, and is constantly bashing the Republicans and job creators."

Beyond just Stewart's interview brilliance, his team consistently churns out revealing information about lies, half-truths, and inconsistencies of politicians, pundits, and others in the media. In Stewart's recent Rolling Stone interview, he revealed his staff's delight in finding "one-to-one's," or clips of people directly contradicting themselves in two different appearances.

For me, the insightful, entertaining, and hilarious writing is enhanced by Stewart's increasingly goofy delivery. Over the years, he has done more and more impersonations, voices, tirades, and just all-out bits like doing a whole episode impersonating Glen Beck.

His "Restoring Sanity" rally sums up The Daily Show's philosophy--instead of our political parties tearing each other down, they should do what Daniels supposedly supports--uniting--and leave the tearing down to clever comedians like Stewart and company.

Taste Tuesdays: Old Fashioned, Small Town Bakery: Central Pastry

Tucked away on a dying Main Street in Ohio, Central Pastry has the super-sweet icinged cakes that supermarket cakes just can't match. The icing is thick, leaving an ditch-like indent when you try to sneak a swipe. The 1/2 icing is borderline too sweet, but a little at a time keeps you going back for more again and again. The cake itself is more of a pedestal for the icing to sit on without a lot of notable flavor on its own so it can feature the sweet icing.

I know that cakes have changed to having fondant (disgusting!) to ice cream to cookie cakes. But there is something about a classic cake from Central Pastry that keeps a piece of the past alive with its old-fashioned deliciousness.

Movie Mondays: The Conspirator

I love movies that entertain while also teaching, especially movies that shed light on a controversy or social issue. The Conspirator, written by James D. Solomon, is one of those movies. I admired Solomon and company's decision to keep the Abraham Lincoln's character's role small and mysterious, focusing instead on the lesser-known people in this situation.

I also applaud Robert Redford for focusing on events from the past that emphasize how we are dealing with present-day issues in similar ways instead of learning from past mistakes (like he did in Lions for Lambs, one of my favorite movies) such as The Salem Witch Trials, Lincoln's and JFK's assassinations, the profiling of potential terrorists, searching for WMDs even following through with the death penalty when there are suspicions have been handled in eerily similiar fashion--hysteria, swift action when patience would be better, and stereotyping groups of people based on the action of a few.

This movie showcases how harmful this way of thinking can be and encourages rational, thoughtful deliberation instead of swift, harsh action. People in power's need for someone to blame and the cowardly action of John Surrat show two of the worst characteristics of people in crisis. In addition, the government's treachery and personal agendas are pushed through with the cliche "this is what the American people would want." It was also embarrassing that the people in power after Lincoln's assassination contradicted with his fight for civil rights by taking away the rights of Mary Surratt.

The casting of James McAvoy as the young, ambitious lawyer was brilliant. The fact that he was against defending Mary Surrat at the beginning but when his moral fiber was tested, he fought for her and against the system, knowing that he was essentially sealing his fate as a shunned lawyer and war hero. Sacrificing his own career to fight against injustice was touching, and the true element that this man went on to be the editor of the Washington Post which allowed him to have a hand in keeping our leaders and government officials in check and exposing lies is a sweet revenge and perfect position for Frederick Aiken.

Well-worth watching and analyzing.

Sightseeing Sundays: Expectations for New Orleans

Photo Courtesy of: Bruce Soileau via Miel et Lait

I was recently invited to a Media Tour in New Orleans that starts this Friday, and I wanted to do a small expectations entry which will serve as a point of reference to compare to when I actually experience this alluring city for the first time.

I picture music playing all day, every day, spicy smells wafting through the air, and an energy that is palpable. I definitely plan to try the requisite po' boys, beignets, and for some reason I suspect that a New Orleans Bloody Mary will be spicy and delicious.

I also was surprised to see on Travel + Leisure today that a neighborhood in New Orleans was voted one of the topic 12 neighborhoods in America, so I hope to have time to check it out during my stay as well.

I have traveled throughout the South, and I am excited that New Orleans will help me have a more complete picture of everything the South has to offer.

Soul Saturdays: "But I Love (insert person who is bad for you here)"

I know Soul Saturdays are supposed to be uplifting, but I think sometimes venting is good for your soul and therefore uplifting :) With that in mind, this statement "but I love ______" has been grating on my nerves.

What has sparked this annoyance? I'm gonna blame the television show Friends. I have my DVR set to tape any Friends episode that comes on, and they have marathons on Nick at Nite all the time (cutely grouped according to whose "night" it is, meaning that one character's best episodes are played back to back to back).

While I love this show, and I mean that, seeing the episodes grouped this way, instead of linear, put some "Rachel loves Ross," no, wait, "Rachel loves Joey," whoops, "She Loves Ross Again" episodes in the same night. While this plot element was and is engaging and tugs on your heart strings, it also sometimes makes you want to slap the characters. And these characters would often explain their acts of selfish, self-sabotaging, ridiculous behavior with the statement "but I love _________."

When someone says, "But I love ______," the but gives it away. Either the person they are speaking these words to has just hinted that
a) ________ isn't good for you
b) ________ treats you wrong
c) you deserve better than _________
d) ________ is going to break your heart
3)or a variety of one of the above.

The point is, if you have to defend your relationship with someone by saying "but I love ______," chances are that you don't think you should be with them either, but you are scared to be alone, or start over, or have another failed relationship, or can't see any other immediate path without that other person.

We can love people that are wrong for us.

We sometimes should walk away from people who aren't good for us.

Just because you say you love someone or they say they love you doesn't mean you really do or that love is enough.

If you were 100% honest with yourself, you probably aren't happy in the relationship and need to get out if you catch yourself saying, "But I love ________."

And even though it pains me to say this, Rachel and Joey should have ended up together probably. Just sayin'.

Fiction Friday: Beth Harbison's Hope in a Jar Fun, Nostalgic Read

Harbison's Hope in a Jar is a fun, easy read that takes a few classic plot elements (class reunion, opposite sex friends falling in love, ugly ducking blossoming into successful, beautiful woman) and briefly ties in taboo topics to give this otherwise chick-lit novel some edge.

I am a sucker for reflective novels that force you to take personal inventory about where your life is headed and what you want for your future. Both of the main characters are approaching their twenty year high school reunion filled with regret and a shrinking supply of time and eggs.

The perpetual sidekick becomes the highly successful beauty editor of a high-profile magazine, while the formerly prettier and more dominant former best friend's personality has shrunk while her waistline has expanded. After losing touch at the end of high school, the girls' are reunited, and Harbison shows how some people are just meant to be in each others' lives.

These two characters fit together and both make each other better people that want more out of life--after all, shouldn't good friends, just like good spouses and family members, make you want to be a better person?

My complaint was that I felt perhaps these women should have been approaching their tenth reunion or even fifteenth because I wish they had rediscovered each other sooner and started living the lives they wanted to live sooner too. Better late than never I guess, which is another theme in Harbison's fun novel with heart.

Tune Thursdays: Thomas Claxton's New Album Return to Nowhere

Click here for my Savannah Morning News "Music Matters" column for September 22, 2011 featuring Thomas Claxton

Writer Wednesday: Taylor Branch: Researcher Extraordinaire

Taylor Branch impressed me with his article titled "The Shame of College Sports." I talked briefly in a previous blog post about my experience as a college athlete. I got a lot of satisfaction reading this article because it voiced feelings I have about my personal experiences (such as two-a-days that barely left me with energy to study, let alone get a part-time job to support myself during college).

I am eager to read other nonfiction pieces by Branch now as I enjoy his blunt, informative, and insightful metaphors. The Clinton Tapes is definitely on my to-read list now, and I look forward to reading much more by Branch. Thank you to The Atlantic for introducing me to this intense writer.

For the article, Branch interviewed people that discussed paying college athletes at the D1 money-making schools due to the huge amounts of money that are made off of these athletes. He also dug up excellent information and really gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the greed surrounding college athletics. While I agree with this, I argue one step further that athletes should receive minimum wage for their efforts. People are quick to say that this would be unfair because student-athletes are already paid via their scholarships.

However, the reality is that these student-athletes are just as broke as their fellow students, scholarship or not. The benefits of a college scholarship aren't evident until after college is over and the student doesn't have debt. What about their college years? Should student-athletes not have money to pay for McDonald's, or to go see a movie, or have any social life at all? What about going home for the holidays?

I actually had to take out student loans just to have enough money to cover my books and living expenses so I did in fact still rack up student loans. Playing college sports meant I had little to no free time, and the sporadic in and off season schedules make having a job during the year virtually impossible. Even at smaller schools, athletics are an important element of the fabric that makes up the school's persona and the hours put in over the course of four years is not covered by most college scholarships.

Taylor's piece brought up all these feelings and thoughts that I have been harboring for over ten years. The fact that he stirred something in me is not just due to the topic (although of course this is a huge element) but also due to his thorough research and unabashed support of reforming the NCAA and exposing the corruption that is rampant in the administration. So often, writers try to play to both sides and while this approach makes sense for journalists, reading Branch's and his interviewees unabashed take on the disturbing wrongdoings of the NCAA and colleges regarding college sports was refreshing and welcomed.

Taste Tuesdays: Tomato Thai Soup from Starland Cafe

I FINALLY tried a restaurant I have been wanting to try for a while now and was not disappointed. It is a cute lunch spot located in Starland District of Savannah called Starland Cafe. It is inside an old, brightly painted Victorian-style home with mismatched tables and chairs--a design feature I am truly obsessed with and automatically makes me like a place more.

Anyway, on to the soup. I rarely order tomato soup from restaurants because I feel like it's boring. But I love Thai, and one of my friends who use to be a gourmet chef said that you can really tell if a restaurant is quality or not by their soups. And, I love, love, love soup. Like, eat-it-everyday love it.

Here's my description: Extremely thick, yet not chunky. The typical tomato-red color was toned down by the creamy Thai sauce that brought out the orange hues and off-set nicely by the bright green chives. I was hoping the Thai flavor would be a little stronger, but the soup was still satisfying and tasty. I thought the texture was changed more than the actual taste of the tomato soup by the addition of the Thai hints. Definitely would be nice on a cool fall or winter day with some crusty bread. Nothing like the tomato soup from a can!

Movie Monday: Everything Must Go, in My Life Too

So, Will Ferrell's serious/sarcastic role in Everything Must Go was relevant for me in my life right now, so perhaps that is why I enjoyed it so much. Sure, the subject matter was depressing--an alcoholic who gets fired from his job for inappropriate conduct at a convention the same day his wife leaves him for their joint AA sponsor. Rough stuff.

Yet, I love how this movie tackles one of the taboos in our culture: starting over. The American Dream encourages, no, insists, that you have to always be moving forward at all times. If you aren't, then you are a loser, or at the very least, "behind schedule."

What a terrible message this is that penetrates every aspect of our society. This way of thinking can truly petrify you to make the necessary sacrifices and changes taht you need to make, and that Will Ferrell's character definitely needed to make in his life. By selling all his "stuff," his character realizes that he needs to focus on himself, not his possessions, house, or even career--he needs to figure out how to make himself happy and deal with his demons.

This means going against what society says which is accumulate, accumulate, accumulate. The more stuff you have, the happier you will be. If you don't collect things, you have nothing to show for your life.

The reality is, sometimes having stuff is just a safety net to make you feel like you are on the right path, that you have something to show for your life, that you are a successful person. But even though Ferrell's character had a good job, wife, nice home, and plenty of toys, he was still unhappy with himself and needed to get his life on a better path.

I feel strongly about this movie I think partly because we recently had to sell our truck, some of our precious "stuff," and move out of our house in order to get on a better path. Some people like to judge these choices just like Ferrell's character was judged. But the reality is, it was the best thing for him, and it is the best thing for us. There's something to be said for being able to pick up and go, and sometimes, it is the best choice.

I also enjoyed Ferrell's rant to his neighbor about the fact that we all wear masks. His tirade urges people to live authentic, transparent lives--or at least recognize that the supposed masks you try to wear to make your life appear so wonderful are not full-proof and usually, people can see you for who you really are anyway. So, put energy into living a better life and being a better person instead of just pretending to be.

Excellent, insightful, and heartbreaking yet uplifting script by Dan Rush. Looking forward to seeing lots more by him!

Sightseeing Sundays: Chicago's Architectural Tour

If you go to Chicago, a definite must-do is the architectural boat tour, even if you are not an architecture buff (and I am not). It is a great way to get some history, get a special view of the city via the water, and find out some cool tidbits about the city. And, there is definite beauty in seeing the different eras of architecture. I also respect the innovation and creativity of the architects themselves, especially because this is a talent that I do not possess at all.

This tour also made me think about the connection between history, literature, and culture. I hadn't realized how architecture is also defined in the same terms as literature (like postmodern, contemporary, etc.), and I like thinking about American history in this way--it makes me feel connected to the past and our ancestors. It's inspirational to think that authors, architects, scholars, politicians, etc. from different eras were and are all connected and often on the same wavelength. Very cool.

soul Saturdays: I Concur with Taylor Branch's article "The Shame of College Sports"

I will be talking about this article's content and writer, Taylor Branch, this Wednesday more in-depth. But, for Soul Saturday, I wanted to briefly talk about how good it made me feel to see this article, "The Shame of College Sports," on the cover the The Atlantic. A few months ago, I attended a wedding and the topic of paying college athletes was brought up. It resulted in a heated debate (and some grudges) in which I felt somewhat alienated by my opinion that yes, we should pay athletes a minimum wage because of the athletes' importance to the school, the revenue that they bring in, and the hours the sport requires of them which pretty much makes having a part-time job impossible.

My opinion was not well-received.

I am a former college athlete myself, and although I was in the non-profitable sport of volleyball and only at a small division II school, the fact is, sports are a big part of why alumni pay money to schools. Sports are also a big reason that students attend the school not to mention gear, concession stands, and exposure. All of these reasons and more are why I feel that college athletes should be paid minimum wage no matter what school they go to or if they are in a revenue-generating sport.

While this article does not argue the exact same points as me, the fact that Taylor Branch revealed a whole group of people that feel strongly about the corruption and blatant monopoly and greed that pollute the NCAA made me feel united and accepted--unlike I did during the conversation at the wedding.

It's nice to not feel like an outsider and seek out like-minded people. Does this mean that I cannot listen to or learn from people that have opposing views? Of course not. But it sure is nice to find people to agree with sometimes, too, espeically when the topic is controversial and I have a personal investment and experience with the issue.

Fiction Friday: New Book Recommendation Tool from Goodreads!

Instead of reviewing a book today, I thought I would share news about a very cool new tool to help you find books that you will love using algorithms (sort of like Pandora, StumbleUpon, Netflix, etc.). I haven't tested it out yet, but I am very excited about finding more books I love (of course, I always welcome recommendations!).

http://techland.time.com/2011/09/16/finally-goodreads-launches-book-recommendations-service/?xid=fblike 


I especially love books that

• deal with any type of human relationships (family, friends, love, co-workers--anything that dives into the psyche)
• Historical fiction
• Autobiographical

What about you? What are your favorite types of books? Recommendations?

Tune Thursday: Gringo Star

Savannah Morning News "Music Matters" for September 15, 2011: Gringo Star

Writer Wednesdays: Bye Bye, Bitters Blog will Make You Less Bitter

Helena writes a fun, personal blog at byebyebitters.wordpress.com. I especially enjoyed her guest post at shewritesandrights about putting "Pen to Paper." She explains:

"With school and most of my frantic, avid note-taking now behind me, I still reach to a pen to document ideas. I storyboard, I doodle, I make maps. I circle, I highlight, I pin to bulletin boards. While, invariably and understandably, these ideas are typed before they are shared with others, they begin life on a humble piece of paper."

A kindred spirit! I, too, cannot give up my trusty pen and paper (although, I will admit, I sometimes misplace these written gems unless I transfer them to my online documents or three-hole punch them into my mobile desk aka large folder).

I know technology can store all of that stuff for you, but there is something about physically writing down information--like Helena says, "My brain makes connections as ink spreads my new knowledge along the college-ruled lines." I agree with this statement, and I like the visual aspect of having information in one folder where I can see my notes, thoughts, ideas, and contacts. I recently started a new all-written-down system that I will share this week on Soul Saturday.

Helena's blog includes gorgeous photos and focuses on Love, Home, Body Image, and Who I Am. An honest, open, inviting blog worth adding to your roll. Enjoy!

Taste Tuesdays: New writing gig!

So I was named the Dining and Nightlife Editor for South Magazine based in Savannah, Georgia--How cool is that?! So, I am going to use this "Taste Tuesday" to practice my writing skills describing food. I apologize in advance if I make you hungry :)

Today's item: Lobster Macaroni

We picked up a frozen lobster macaroni from Publix, and everything about it was superb. The cheese was creamy, rich, and just thick enough to cling to the lobster and pasta and cover each piece. The cheese was a mixture of white and yellow cheeses with noticeable lobster flavor infused throughout the sauce. Bigger lobster chunks would have been welcomed just for the decadence of eating lobster at home. The noodles were spring corkscrews that cooked up perfectly.

The dish was delicious hot and freshly made, but also thickened up nicely after sitting for a few minutes. It was bowl-licking good and a great side if you are throwing your diet out the window for a meal.

Movie Mondays: Source Code Innovative, Intense (and has Jake Gyllenhall)

I wanted to see this movie as soon as it came out, but I just didn't get around to it. I was impressed for several reasons, the main being an innovative technology that drove the plot. Gyllenhall's character is a military captain, and a new program, called the "source code," basically uses the declared dead soldier's half-alive brain in order to send him back in time and act as a spy inside another person's body. Sounds confusing, but screenwriter Ben Ripley explains it all thoroughly and clearly early in the movie. In addition, the repetition of the same eight mintues with different results each time make for an interesting "what if" experiment a la Sliding Doors.

The acting of both Gyllenhall and Monoghan is spot-on, bringing emotion and depth to a movie that could have been too stiff and scientific due to the out-there technology and concept. The emotion they bring echoes one of the most important questions of the movie: If you knew you only had eight minutes to live, what would you do with that time? While this kind of thinking could run you ragged, it does encourage the concept of living in the moment, going for what you want, and not letting life or opportunities pass you by.

The subtle changes that Ripley writes for each of the travels back in time that Gyllenhall's character experiences are also a study in human behavior. Our little communication quirks, our laziness, and how we tend to disengage and float through life. This movie shakes the characters awake and gives them a second chance.

A clever plot combined with crazy-smart technology and solid acting equals a movie worth watching.