Reflections on an Odd Life

Jun 2, 2008 10:05am

Ribs

Last night, while in Memphis for the City & Regional Magazine Association annual meeting, I went with five other guys from various magazines to a hole-in-the-wall ribs joint on Beale Street.

We asked the snarky waitress to describe the size of the “full rack,” she gestured to her own rack.

We all ordered a half rack.

May 31, 2008 3:50pm

Just for the record....

I just hopped in a cab and ordered: “We’re going to Graceland.” [In Memphis for a magazine conference, just finished ribs at Rendezvous.]
May 23, 2008 4:51pm

New Haven

I’m just leaving Yale after three days at a conference and realized that I bought very little here. For those who know me, the complete list of my New Haven purchases (in chronological order) won’t be a surprise: milkshake, coffee and two donuts, milkshake, coffee and two donuts. That’s all. Healthy, huh?
May 23, 2008 8:29am
The double rainbow outside my hotel window in New Haven last night. The double rainbow outside my hotel window in New Haven last night.
May 23, 2008 8:29am
I’ve never been to Yale before so I took the opportunity of a lull in the conference I’m attending this week to wander around campus yesterday. It’s pretty but that does nothing to change it sucking. I’ve never been to Yale before so I took the opportunity of a lull in the conference I’m attending this week to wander around campus yesterday. It’s pretty but that does nothing to change it sucking.
May 22, 2008 7:06pm

I really am at sea

May 22, 2008 2:10pm

One of my problems

I love being a generalist. I think there’s way too much specialization in life today. I understand the whole Paradox of Choice and the Long Tail and all that, but I think we’ve swung much too far in the other direction. Too many people today (especially in academia) don’t know enough about enough. One of the joys of being a journalist is the ability to jump from one topic to another each day. My section in Washingtonian each month includes some sports, some media, some politics, some books, some food/drink, some entertainment, and some gossip.

One effect of my wide-ranging interests is that I end up wanting to write books about too many different things. Easily once a month I come up with a book topic that I’d love to do and spend a year researching and writing. This year already I’ve had serious conversations about six different book ideas and have three more kicking around now, even though I think I’m settling down on one of them now. Sometimes I wish I was interested in less things so I could be more focused in my professional life.

Sigh.

May 16, 2008 5:40pm
Um, yes, I would love to replace “Normal.” How do I go about doing that? Um, yes, I would love to replace “Normal.” How do I go about doing that?
May 14, 2008 3:56pm

Quote of the Day

On a door of an Eisenhower era White House official: “Have you come with a solution or are you part of the problem?”
May 14, 2008 7:33am

Too many early mornings

It’s a commentary on just how many early mornings I spend at Tryst that, when I rounded Calvert Street coming down to 18th and Columbia Road this morning at 7:25 a.m. and noticed a McDonalds truck unloading supplies, my first thought was: “Oh, they’re late and off schedule this week. That normally happens on Mondays and they’re normally done by 7 a.m.”
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