January 2, 2014: The Change-up! Jazzycakes Cupcakes!

No sooner do I finally get used to writing “2013″ in the blog title instead of “2o12″ than I have to start writing “2014″.  2014!  It just feels like yesterday the world was supposed to end – back in 2012.  Or at the end of 1999.  I’ve got to stop selling off my worldly possessions and accept the fact that armageddon is NOT around the corner.  Of course, I say that now and, two months down the line when the world ends, I’ll be the guy with egg all over my face.  And all of my worldly possessions.

While the apocalypse may not be upon us – yet – I’ve noticed a definite speeding up of my sense of time.  It seems the older I get, the quicker the days, weeks, months, even years pass by.  My friend Alexander claims this is because when we’re younger, we’re constantly experiencing new things – as opposed to the mundane routine of our later years.  New experiences apparently influence our perception of time differently than habitual activity.  Trying new things and mixing things up may not, technically, give you a longer life – but it’ll certainly feel that way.

Now I’m a guy who likes his routine, so this is going to be a bit of a challenge, but I’m going to try anyway.  I’m going to start injecting a little “different” in every one of my days.  I’m not sure how or what, but it’ll be new and interesting and, no doubt, blog-worthy.

Maybe I’ll start a new hobby (for about a month before switching to another so that I don’t want to fall into a routine), or travel somewhere new in completely new ways (backpacking through Yemen?), or a second, third, maybe even a fourth career (hat designer, glassblower, goji juice salesman, ayurveda healer).   Have any suggestions for me?  Let’s hear ‘em!

Speaking of “the effects of re-experience”, Mike A. posted the following question today: “When you watch a finished episode(as it was aired) of a show you’ve worked on, does being the writer/director/showrunner/EP(or whatever your role on a particular episode might have been) “taint’ your viewing experience somehow? Are you able to watch your show with the same kind of objectivity we do? Logic would dictate no because you already know what’s going to happen. But you’re a smart guy and a definite fan of not only the craft, but the story as well who truly appreciates others’ work when it’s well done. So, that tells me yes. I just think it’d be challenging to watch something you were there for the making of and enjoy it to the same level as a regular viewer. Or, is the finished product(after VFX, sound, editing) far enough removed from what was shot(the first hand/personal experience) that making that psychological distinction is a little easier?”

Answer: It really depends on the episode.  Any shortcomings are always magnified, any bad memories certain to taint my enjoyment when I sit down to re-watch something I wrote.  It’s very rare I actually sit through one of my episodes and think: “That was great!”.  More often than not, it’s “That could have been better!”. There are, however, instances in an episode which will elicit an occasional: “That was great!”.  Most recently, the last 15 minutes of Insurrection II.

And, speaking of trying something new like, say, a new business – I met up with my old buddy, Phil, the other day and he informed me that his young daughter had started her very own cupcake company!  Out of a desire: 1) to help out my friend’s daughter and 2) for cupcakes, I ordered a half dozen, six Coconut Courtneys and six Red Velvlet Vickys.  I picked them up on my way home from shopping and discovered Phil had surprised me with two extra flavors: a Vanilla Vanessa and a Cookie Dough Carly.  Cookie dough!  In a cupcake!  I couldn’t wait to get back home and try it…

The Proud Poppa

The Enterprising Entrepreneur

I arrived home to discover my mother entertaining two of her neighbors.  ”Offer them some cupcakes!”said my mother in Italian.  I opened up the box and set them down on the table offering the first neighbor a choice between: “Coconut or red velvet?”.  She chose the red velvet.  I then gave the other (more, er, colorful) neighbor the same choice: “Coconut or red velvet?”.

“What’s that?”she asked, pointing to my single cookie dough cupcake (Yes, mine.  I’d laid claim the second Phil had told me there was one in the box).

“Cookie dough,”I informed her.

“Cookie dough?”she asked, clearly perplexed.  And then: “Okay, I’ll take that.”

“It’s cookie dough,”I attempted to enlighten her.  ”RAW cookie dough.”

“Yeah, that’s okay.”

So one neighbor ate the red velvet cupcake, and the other ate my cookie dough cupcake.  I consoled myself with a coconut cupcake.  And, later, a red velvet cupcake.  And the vanilla cupcake.  And another coconut cupcake.  They were delicious with a perfect cake to frosting ratio!  The one neighbor found the red velvet especially good because it wasn’t too sweet.  ”Mine was a little sweet,”said the other neighbor.

“Of course it was a little sweet!”I wanted to say.  ”It’s filled with cookie dough!!!!”

And, for the record, I love SWEET cookie dough!

Ah, well.  Maybe next trip!

Jazzy Cakes – Wix

Today’s blog entry is dedicated to Deni’s grandson, Michael/Anakin in honor of his first birthday!

Tagged: Jazzycakes, Jazzycakes Cupcakes