Jamie Patterson's Blog, page 8
December 23, 2011
MoneyGrabber
Siena sings Fitz & The Tantrums
December 22, 2011
Traditions
What says Christmas tradition like the British Arrows Awards? That's where you could find the entire Patterson clan tonight: at the Walker Art Center for a showing. Here's a link to the Best Television Commercial of the Year (according to the British Arrows) and a short preview below.
December 21, 2011
Have a Funky Christmas
It finally snowed today in Minnesota and it's feeling a bit more like Christmas. All the radio stations on are heavy Christmas song rotation and are playing all the hits. It's the only time of year you can hear the Beach Boys, Dan Fogelberg, and the New Kids on the Block on the same playlist! What a great holiday.
Beach Boys - Merry Christmas, Baby.MP3
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Dan Fogelberg - Same Old Lang Syne
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Beach Boys - Merry Christmas, Baby.MP3
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Dan Fogelberg - Same Old Lang Syne
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December 20, 2011
To Blog or not to Blog
On the way to LA from Tokyo my nice, wide, comfy business class seat lost power just after dinner. No reclining, no reading light, no movies. With 10 hours to go in the flight. Power was out in the seat next to me as well and I ended up having a 10 hour conversation with the man I was seated next to. For someone who makes a point of not speaking to strangers I'm seated next to on planes and trains, this was the second time I've had an encounter with a stranger I was seated next to that really made me challenge the way I viewed my life. (Including my stance on talking to strangers!)
One of the points of conversation was about whether or not to keep blogging. This blog started at the request of the publicist for Lost Edens and I quickly realized I had very little to blog about if I was just going to blog about the book. I still try to mention Lost Edens as many times as possible (Lost Edens. Lost Edens.) but my main goal is trying to keep a daily blog, which means I write a lot about things unrelated to writing and publishing.
New story, same topic: one of my brother-in-law's friends died a couple of weeks ago after a prolonged struggle with alcoholism. To those who were close and tried to help, his death was very sad but not surprising. He spent most of his day online--he was, in fact, found at his computer--and all of his facebook and other online friends consistently expressed shock when they heard the news. He had seemed well to them.
I don't know what it is about blogging, facebook, and other online social media but I just can't decide if it's something I really want to be a part of. I'm not entirely convinced that you actually get genuine connections from these mediums, or an authentic life experience. And yet, I wouldn't be in touch with some people in any other way. I'm also not entirely thrilled anyone can google my name and get information that would more or less represent my life. And yet, I see how necessary it is if I'm going to continue trying to sell a story about my life.
So I'll keep blogging until I come to a conclusion. Or maybe someday I'll just wipe my online presence clean. Just think if I focused a little bit more on what was going on around me--I could have a few more than two landmark conversations with strangers and be all the wiser for it.
One of the points of conversation was about whether or not to keep blogging. This blog started at the request of the publicist for Lost Edens and I quickly realized I had very little to blog about if I was just going to blog about the book. I still try to mention Lost Edens as many times as possible (Lost Edens. Lost Edens.) but my main goal is trying to keep a daily blog, which means I write a lot about things unrelated to writing and publishing.
New story, same topic: one of my brother-in-law's friends died a couple of weeks ago after a prolonged struggle with alcoholism. To those who were close and tried to help, his death was very sad but not surprising. He spent most of his day online--he was, in fact, found at his computer--and all of his facebook and other online friends consistently expressed shock when they heard the news. He had seemed well to them.
I don't know what it is about blogging, facebook, and other online social media but I just can't decide if it's something I really want to be a part of. I'm not entirely convinced that you actually get genuine connections from these mediums, or an authentic life experience. And yet, I wouldn't be in touch with some people in any other way. I'm also not entirely thrilled anyone can google my name and get information that would more or less represent my life. And yet, I see how necessary it is if I'm going to continue trying to sell a story about my life.
So I'll keep blogging until I come to a conclusion. Or maybe someday I'll just wipe my online presence clean. Just think if I focused a little bit more on what was going on around me--I could have a few more than two landmark conversations with strangers and be all the wiser for it.
December 19, 2011
Home!
Home is never as sweet as it is at the end of December. Today we took my nieces to see Santa for the first time and joined the crowds for last-minute shopping. Things with Lost Edens are on pause now until January 4 and it's nice to have a little break from worrying about how to keep the project moving forward.
This week, lots of family time. Everyone is home this year and it's nice to be in a big, full house. Merry Christmas, everyone!
Bing Crosby - I'll Be Home For Christmas (with Frank Sinatra & Nat King Cole)
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This week, lots of family time. Everyone is home this year and it's nice to be in a big, full house. Merry Christmas, everyone!
Bing Crosby - I'll Be Home For Christmas (with Frank Sinatra & Nat King Cole)
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December 18, 2011
I Didn't Mean
A lot of people ask how I managed to marry someone I didn't like and the answer is complicated but it can also be pretty simple: even though I didn't want to say yes to his proposal, I also didn't want to hurt him. Yet another thing I learned the hard way: the moment you stay with someone only because you don't want to hurt him or her you set a course to at least one seriously broken heart.
December 17, 2011
Tokyo to LA: Saturday Night in Two Parts
This morning we woke up in Yokohama and headed to the Red Brick Warehouse for a deeelicious brunch, Aussie style. A little bit of shopping, a little bit of Atsugi Navy base, a little bit of listening to James and Michelle work their Japanese language skills with various Taxi drivers, and then a little bit of time in Shinjuku.
An exciting Saturday night in Tokyo documented below, a delightful 10 hour flight across the Pacific, and voila! Saturday night in LA where it seems I still can't seem to stop bowing when I say thank you. Next step: Pacific Surfliner to San Diego where In-N-Out and family await.
The world is really, unbelievably small and time itself has been anything but linear as I've traveled the last few weeks. Two things I hope I can remember this Spring when I'm at home, not traveling. Because I think home will be a good place to be for a little bit.
Tomorrow, homeward bound.
Simon & Garfunkel - Live From New York City, 1967 - 04 - Homeward Bound
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Union Station, downtown Los Angeles. Saturday night.
An exciting Saturday night in Tokyo documented below, a delightful 10 hour flight across the Pacific, and voila! Saturday night in LA where it seems I still can't seem to stop bowing when I say thank you. Next step: Pacific Surfliner to San Diego where In-N-Out and family await.
The world is really, unbelievably small and time itself has been anything but linear as I've traveled the last few weeks. Two things I hope I can remember this Spring when I'm at home, not traveling. Because I think home will be a good place to be for a little bit.
Tomorrow, homeward bound.
Simon & Garfunkel - Live From New York City, 1967 - 04 - Homeward Bound
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Union Station, downtown Los Angeles. Saturday night.
