What I Write About When I Write About Writing

My lil doodle

I recently read a rant in the latest issue of this magazine or that, about authors who only come out with one book a decade. The ranter complained that this frequency renders the author replaceable and—eek!—out of touch by the time they are publishing again. He went onto say that there is no shortage of wannabe writers, so if there are authors who can’t handle the (read: measly) pressure of publishing, then maybe it’s time to step aside.

Yeesh! As a wannabe writer who wannabes “Writer” on her epitaph one day (but might never if the writing’s like this), I also considered this argument for myself. Sure I want to be a writer, but what do I really do about it?

Unemployment 101

I have basically realized that some people deal with unemployment better than others, and I am definitely not one of those people.

I cycle between Tired, Agitated, Excitable, Anxious, Totally On, Dropping Off Quickly, and Don’t Talk To Me I’m Angry. And all come with a side of Humorless. It is not a pretty sight to behold. I especially feel for my boyfriend who I moved in with for the first time six months ago. At the same time as unemployment happened to me, I happened to him.

Moneyball: What are you worth?

Brad Pitt as Oakland A's General Manager Billy Beane

Moneyball opens with some classic throwback television coverage—it’s the Oakland A’s in the elimination game of the American League Divisional Series against the New York Yankees in 2001. First we are live at the game in big New York, rocking with the playoff glitz and extravaganza that a big budget can afford, and then the camera emerges from this scene out of a lonely television being watched by a security guard in one of the stark back alleys of an empty Oakland Coliseum.

What part of you is not for sale?

Last night I had the amazing experience of seeing Peter Sellars, theater director and UCLA Professor, speak during the second installment of the undergraduate UC Berkeley class Edible Education (which is open to the public every week!) It's been a while since I've been in a lecture that made me so uncomfortable.

An Idea

After taking a two-month long hiatus from blogging since graduating from b-school, I am definitely itching to get back to a little bit of writing, and here I am, finally! And writing something that isn't a wannabe marketing plan or cover letter.

It is so rare that I'm actually good enough to sit down and write, but when I do create something original and new during my day that I can feel good about (even if just in the creation of my own mind...)

Inspiration from a woman philanthropist's urban oasis in Boston

With AL in town from LA, I decided to join her in some sightseeing in my own city. I tagged along to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, wanting to find some inspiration. So glad I did. This gem in the city seems to attract women of all ages who are looking for a little bit of inspiration.

Isabella Stewart Gardner (1840-1924) was a philanthropist, traveler, and lover of the arts-- in addition to being independently wealthy.

Working for the church while your life falls apart, Singing hallelujah with the fear in your heart*

*Thank God for the Arcade Fire.

They weave bombastic and haunting melodies together with floating, grandiose lyrics mostly expressing pain and trouble.

This is the band that took over an abandoned church in Montreal to record the album Neon Bible, and the inspiration led them to weave in enormous organ movements with drums and elegant, sad, angry, fearful, and proud lyrics.

The US/China question

Since I got back from China, a lot of my American friends and family-- from my Pop-Pop to family friends-- have asked me some version of that same question... "So, the Chinese. They're beating us bad, aren't they? Do you think we have a chance?"