Friday Inspiration – Be Interested

July 29, 2011 By 51 Comments

I didn’t grow up in a family of means.  Entertaining ourselves came in the form of riding bikes, playing in the yard, or reading.

When it came to reading, with five kids in the family and a tight budget, there were not trips to the bookstore.  My mom took us for regular trips to the library, but I was a fast reader, so often times I’d find myself already through my pile of books before the next jaunt for more reading material.

In the family room bookcase was a set of old encyclopedias and National Geographic magazines, acquired at a junk store or garage sale.  When I’d burn through the last of my library books, I’d head to the bookshelf and pick a letter or a month.

Yes.  I read encyclopedias in my spare time.  Sounds boring, but I loved it.  I learned so many different things.

As an adult, I find that my interests are varied.  I get excited about all sorts of things.  I can be in a group of foodies, techies, artists, or science buffs and take part in the conversation without boring myself (or them) to tears.  (If only mom had found a cheap box of Vogue, I could hang with the fashionistas…alas, here I sit in sweatpants)

I can’t help but think that those encyclopedias had something to do with it.

When you are young, there is less fear about being the expert on whatever you have an interest in.  Everything is new, so the experience of learning is enough to keep you engaged.

At some point, hopefully not too early, we are introduced to the idea of competition.  Then the idea that we must be better than everyone else.  That an interest is only worth our time if we can be the best.  We start giving ourselves titles like “expert”, “master”, and “guru”.  The things  in which we can attribute greatness to ourselves become our interest.

So here’s the thought for Friday: Just be interested.

Everything in life doesn’t have to be about being the best.  I guarantee, 99% of people calling themselves any of the aforementioned things are not the best and brightest in their area of interest.

Enjoy things because you enjoy them.  And guess what?  When you let yourself be interested, you become more interesting.

And, as a total non sequitur, I bring you:

You're sitting in your office doing this right now, aren't you?

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.  Go learn something new.

***In line with today’s post, if you’ve never read A.J. Jacobs The Know-It-All, go get it.  Read it.  Now.  Love this book.

Currently Listening to: I Just Don’t Think I’ll Get Over You by Colin Hay

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There Are No Stupid Questions

July 28, 2011 By 10 Comments

I worked as an applications trainer for a time period.  When I had a group of students that seemed to have a good sense of humor, I would write this statement on the board in the beginning of class:

There are NO stupid questions.

At some point during class, someone would ask a question and I would slowly walk to the board and erase the word “no”.

Yeah, I am an awesome teacher.

Today’s post is simple.  A request really.  I’ll be interviewing myself once again.  Next week.  I’ve gathered quite a few questions, but as readers of the blog, you should all have an opportunity to get yours in.

Leave your questions in the comments below.  Silly or serious, they will be answered.

And now I am off to work on the WIP (30,000+ words in…feels good).

 

Currently listening to: Jonas read The Giant Jam Sandwich

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Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday – Med Edition

July 27, 2011 By 22 Comments

Welcome once again to “Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday“, where Tiffany White and I take on the arduous task of watching the latest TV has to offer, letting you know what’s worth tuning in to, and what is better left alone.

This week I talk medical drama on TNT and USA, in HawthoRNe and Royal Pains.

I like medical drama. I accept that it is generally overdramatic, and often unrealistic.  I mean, I’ve been to an ER.  No hot doctors, no one running around like it’s a matter of life and death, no power struggles unfolding in front of the patients; it’s just dull and expensive.

While I can suspend some belief, I only do so when the characters are likeable and the situations they find themselves in are at least somewhat plausible.

HawthoRNe (the RN tells you it’s about nurses) centers around Christina Hawthorne (Jada Pinkett-Smith) a no nonsense, tough as nails nurse.

She means business. Or something.

Or at least that is what they want the viewer to think of her.

Instead, we get a bossy woman who is implausibly always right, surrounded by people who are never as smart, who never take risks, who all-in-all can’t live up to the standard set by her mere existence.  In case you aren’t getting it, I don’t like the main character.  And I am supposed to.  That translates into big fail.

Now, I’ll be honest.  I’ve seen two episodes, both from the beginning of the second season.  In the first episode, there were so many things that should have tugged at my heartstrings.  Should have.  I’m about to give you a spoiler, just to be clear in how much I don’t like this show.  Someone loses their baby.  Being a mom, that usually means I am in instant tears.

I didn’t even flinch.  Somehow, this show has been written in a way that I care so little for the characters in it, that dead babies don’t even make me tear up.  Typing that sentence made me more emotional than watching this show did.

It is sad that a program showcasing eye candy like Michael Vartan, James Morrison, David Julian Hirsh, and Adam Rayner is so unlikable.

HawthoRNe, I would declare you DOA, as cheesy and trite as that sounds since that formula seems to be your go to, but you have already survived an entire season.

I will instead bestow upon you the very first LOTV.  Liver and onions all the way.  Not even bacon can save this bad boy.

USA Network, can you save us from the atrocity that is the TNT medical drama?

Royal Pains, now in its third season, follows the story of Henry “Hank” Lawson (Mark Feurstein), a doctor who loses his job as a successful ER doc after he focuses his attention on the “wrong” patient.  Giving attention to the patient he thought was in more dire need, a wealthy contributor to the hospital dies.

Tall, handsome, Jewish doctor. I feel a fever coming on...

From the start, the series sets us up with the idea that Dr. Lawson is a caring individual who doesn’t like to let politics or other non-medical factors affect his choices.

Through a series of events that include saving a life while in The Hamptons, he finds himself taking a job as the private doctor to a German nobleman named Boris (the oh so pretty Campbell Scott).   In addition to taking care of Boris, who allows Hank to live in his guest house, he is able to attend to other wealthy patients.

Hello there.

He doesn’t work alone.  His brother, Evan (Paulo Costanzo), serves as HankMed’s CFO, an job title he bestows on himself.  He approaches his brother’s medical practice as a business, often to the annoyance of Hank and his Physicial Assistant, Divya (Reshma Shetty).

The show has a nice blend of funny, dramatic, and just a touch of MacGyver, as Hank tends to make the best of whatever is handy when he comes across emergency situations.  His character, while obviously talented, is caring, never the know-it-all.

Even his often annoying brother has his endearing moments, and the seemingly stiff Divya has her soft side as well.  Well introduced back story (without the aid of lengthy and unecessary flashbacks) clue you in to each characters personalities and idiosyncrasies.

All in all, good characters and good stories.

It doesn’t hurt that Divya wears some killer outfits, and the Lawson brothers are pretty adorable in their own right.

Work it, girl. I ain't mad at ya.

I give Royal Pains a MacTV rating.*  Maybe it’s Lobster Mac N’ Cheese, something worthy of theHamptons?  It is definitely satisfying, and maybe has just a little bit extra.  If you don’t want to take my word for it, this is one case where the majority agrees with me – Royal Pains is one of the highest rated shows on cable.

So, are you watching any medical drama this summer?  What do you think of HawthoRNe and Royal Pains?  Give us your two cents in the comments below or on Twitter using the hashtag #watchwed.

Next week, we give a quick recap of the summer reviews.  What are we still watching?  Have our opinions changed?

Head over to see Tiffany explore whether cons can change from bad to good as she reviews Leverage and White Collar.

What shows are you looking forward to this fall?  Let us know what you’d like to see reviewed in the future.

Also, don’t forget to get your votes in for the Tamberny Awards!

*A Recap of The WatchWed Review System:
GTV (Gourmet TV): Everything we want and more
MacTV (MacNCheese TV): Guilty pleasure. Not perfect, but is satisfies
JFTV (Junk food TV): It’s not great for us, but we’ll go back for seconds
SSTV (Still Simmering TV): It has potential, but the jury is still out
NIV (Nyquil Induced Viewing): Perfect for that late night television sleep timer
LOTV (Liver&Onions TV): Do we really have to explain? Blech

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Psych!

July 26, 2011 By 22 Comments

I’ve always had an interest in psychology.  I’m not claiming to know much in that field, but I am intrigued by it.

When I was working as a technical applications trainer (i.e. Geek for hire!) I used to do an exercise with my class when they returned from lunch to get their minds going, and give them a break from whatever computer task we were learning.

I’d give them all a blank sheet of paper and tell them to draw a pig.  No more instructions than that.  No looking at their neighbors’ paper.  When they were done, I went through a list of things the drawing said about them.  Is it accurate?  Who knows.  But it did get conversations going and kept things interesting.

Yesterday I tried a psychological exercise over at Sandy Rowland’s blog and thought I would share the results with you.

If you didn’t click on the link, I’ll simplify what you were asked to do.

Write down your favorite color (first to pop in your head).  Follow that with three verbs about that color.

Visualize yourself looking into an empty white room.  No furniture, no art, nada.  List three words that describe your feelings about the room.

Write down your favorite animal.  Now write three attributes you connect with this animal.

What did I write and what does it all mean?

First, I wrote green for my favorite color, with the verbs “refresh”, “begin”, “relax”.  This is supposed to represent how I see myself.  I am a fairly calm person, so I guess I can see the connection.  While I am not completely sure what it means, I think it is interesting that I chose both refresh and begin.  Do I feel the need to reboot?  Or do I think I have that effect on others?

Next, the white room is supposed to represent your feelings about death.  I chose the words cold, bright, and creative.  If I die, please be sure to bury me with a sweater.  Or perhaps just cremate me.  That should take care of the cold.  Otherwise, I seem pretty ok with the whole idea.  Death makes me want to redecorate.

Last, my favorite animal.  This one turned out to be my favorite result.  The first thing that came to mind was “lemur”.  Which I described as “wide-eyed”, “active”, and “mischievous”.  What does this describe?  It is  supposed to describe my significant other.  Is this accurate?

You be the judge.

Do you know any exercises like this you care to share?  Did you draw the pig?  What did you find out?

 

Currently listening to: Laughing With by Regina Spektor

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