Well well well it’s Wednesday again and what I’ve already learned is that if you tell people what you’re reading, you damn well better make some progress by the next time your writing day falls on a Wednesday. So I’m really glad to look at my book piles and realize there has been some title rotation. Yay. And phew.
Let’s start with what I’m reading.
Measure What Matters, John Doerr. This title is the latest piece in the professional puzzle as I am still facing a huge challenge in creating a system to set clear objectives, track activity, and measure results (including social impact), in the context of an organization that seems less interested in doing these things than I. So I need to figure out how to introduce and implement these new approaches locally with the goal being to leverage and expand them later. In my experience the most difficult thing about executing on strategy is discipline—but in my opinion it should be easy. You’ve done all the hard work, you have a plan, so all you have to do is stick with it.
That’s “all.” [Insert laughter giving way to crying here.] It’s so complex, getting agreement and alignment…investing in the skills and resources needed to be successful…it’s not an insurmountable obstacle, but it’s also a challenge…despite the suggestion that I hear repeatedly, “Can’t you just ______________________?”
No, I can’t just do the work of a team of surgeons separating conjoined twins—I don’t have the training, the skill, or the wherewithal.
So maybe I am dramatizing a bit, but whatever the “Can’t you just…?” question is, the answer almost always is “No but what I do have is the skill and the ability to align the right resources to ask and answer the right questions. If you’ll “just” give me the support I need for that.” So all of this reading about measuring social impacts and blah blah blah is me trying to make a case to get that support. Wish me luck.
Enough work talk for now.
I’m still reading my daily dose of The Daily Stoic, and plowing slowly through Why We’re Polarized. I’m chipping away at Last Boat Out of Shanghai and have finished and re-shelved Measuring and Improving Social Impacts; Measuring Social Change; and wow, no thank you. No new titles have been thrown into the mix, simply because I want to focus on getting through the ones that have been hanging out there unfinished for too long, so I can free up head space for the books that are virtually screaming “Read me next!” The next time I write on a Wednesday, I expect to have some fresh new covers to show off and crow about.
How about what I’m watching?
What I’m watching is exactly what you’d expect me to be watching at this time of year: Love Actually (on cable, available to buy elsewhere, which we did years ago and have gotten more than our money’s worth). Last Friday was supposed to be Love Actually Day but the way the work week unfolded I deemed myself not festive enough to watch and rescheduled to Saturday. No work stuff weighing heavy, Thursday’s snow still looking fresh and white and wintery…a perfect night for a fire, some wine, some pizza, and love—all around us. Kerri made an announcement in the morning, “It’s a big day—Love Actually” and it was. I honestly don’t even know whether she likes it or whether she’s just playing along for my benefit, but if I can’t tell, she’s doing a great job. Anyway we watched and I loved it, as I always do. That Mr. Bean-wrapping-the-necklace scene. 😂😂😂 The final flourish. I can’t even.
I know some people think Love Actually is the darkest, most unromantic, least Christmas cheery of a movie out there—the lust, the adultery, the sheer inappropriateness of it all. Sure. But there’s so much about it that is fun and bright and happy. Love Actually is like life—focus on what’s wrong with it and you’ll hate it. Focus on what you love about it and it’s a joy.
For other holiday viewing we just had to watch Happiest Season (Hulu) to see what all the fuss was about (worth the watch IMO) and we’ve also watched The Family Stone (Kerri had never seen it—wha the what?), Christmas Vacation, and It’s a Wonderful Life. Still have to watch Elf and stream The Holiday Pops since the real show (one of the best family traditions) was scrapped, obvi. I think we’ll do that tomorrow as part of the Christmas Eve (small and subdued and safe) festivities.
And of course, I watched the classic of classics…had to take advantage of some alone time 😂😂😂:
I also very much enjoyed watching The Prom (Netflix), because who doesn’t love a triumphant teen angst song and dance fest, where good and right trump evil and wrong and minds open wide along the way? It isn’t a Christmas movie but it sure did have the soul and spirit of it. (And not that it’s my business or there’s anything wrong with it, but how the hell is James Corden not gay???)
For regular programming, we’re three weeks into Your Honor with Bryan Cranston (Showtime). Worth the watch. And we like watching a weekly show vs. being tempted to binge.
I also watched The Bachelorette. Not sure why. But I am sure that I have no idea what’s up with the dude who favored these scoop neck tees. 🤷♀️
Any good new listens? Or old listens?
You bet. In addition to my favorite holiday numbers, including this:
and this
and this:
I’ve been mixing it up with some Spotify playlists, namely:
and
I’ve also been listening to this song a good bit…despite the depressing nature of it (everyone wants to come home for Christmas which we all know is out of the question right now), there’s a certain unavoidable hope and joy that comes with Christmas. So no matter where you are or who you’re with, let Christmas save the year. It’s the only year you have after all.
I also really like these two songs this time of year, but they are not on Spotify. Gasp. You can get to Merry Christmas Eve by Better Than Ezra here, and to ¡Happy Birthday Guadalupe! by the Killers here.
And no Christmas would be complete without this gem (God rest ye merry gentlemen, and God rest Kirsty MacColl’s soul):
For non-holiday music, I caught an IG post of Vance Joy’s where he shared a Spotify playlist of his. I like VJ, and although I had never given it a second thought, suddenly was curious about what he likes. It’s been a fun listen, and we overlap on a few songs too. Good vibes, this playlist, IMO.
And then, of course, it goes without saying—the new Tay-tay release!
(Wish that I would have been fractionally as productive as she has been this pandemic.)
Eating and Drinking, An Update
I haven’t cooked anything new worth reporting on, but speaking of cooking can we take a minute to talk about the air fryer? I labored over some copycat Chick-fil-A sandwiches Thursday night (after a long work day and 2.5 hours of snow removal) only to have 90% of the very thin layer of coating (I can’t call it “breading” or I’d be a liar) come off during the air frying. The best part of that unmitigated disaster of an experiment was the frozen Ore Ida fries that I cooked in the regular oven. Anyone have any luck with an air fryer? Share your secrets, please! I find the work-reward ratio is way off…and other than marinated tofu, I have not been able to make any magic in my air fryer. I think I’d have more luck with an Easy Bake Oven. Anyone have a happy air fryer story to tell?
Oh wait, this is really good…I forgot I made this on Monday night. Crisp gnocchi with brussels sprouts and browned butter. We had shaved brussels sprouts from Trader Joe’s in the house so I freestyled with those…equally delish as the original and it’s that much easier. TJ also sells gnocchi so you can get everything you need while you’re there. But if you like brussels sprouts and gnocchi, you can’t go wrong with this. NYT Cooking is def our go-to for new recipes these days. But we also love TJs—anyone got any TJs faves or shortcuts?3,,;:
I’m also still actively and aggressively supporting small local business on the beer-drinking side of things as I grabbed some cans, bottles, and merch at Untold over the weekend. And I treated myself to some Blanton’s bourbon Sunday night, because it is, after all, a wonderful life.
I hope that this post finds you with happy hearts full of the spirit of the season. And if not, well, you’re in luck—because today…is…Festivus! A day all about being Grinch-y, about being grouchy, and about allowable grousing. So gather around your own Festivus pole, have at it, air your grievances, and get all the bad shit out of your system—if for no other reason than because it’s Christmas for crying out loud (not to mention that the days are getting longer and summah’s a-comin’). But also because life is really f-cking good if you let the light in.
Merry happy. And thank you.
The Family Stone is my family's traditional Christmas Eve movie! Really looking forward to it this year, although a little worried the pandemic emotions are going to cause lots of confusing tears lol. Merry Christmas :)
One of these years I'm inviting myself over for love actually night. Or it's a wonderful life night. Thanks for this post.