ON WHY WE TELL STORIES

"Part of..suffering is that [you] can't articulate it. Pain is resistant to language; it can reduce us to a stage before language - to the confusion and anguish, the cries we had before we had words. Karen Blixen said, 'All sorrows can be borne if you put them into a story or tell a story about them.' But what if a person can't tell a story about his sorrows? Experience has taught me that there are stories that we never found a way to voice, because no one helped us to find the words. When we cannot find a way of telling our story, our story tells us - we dream these stories, we develop symptoms we don't understand... 

"We will probably never know what's the point, but we can find meaning, and ourselves, through speaking and listening. We are born into a world of feelings and words; we become who we are by sharing our stories. We need others to help s make sense of ourselves. From our first words to our last, we're story-tellers, but we can't be story-tellers alone - we need someone to listen." 

- Stephen Grosz

VALENTINE'S DAY IN PARIS

I normally ignore Valentine's Day, relationship or no. In fact, it's even better to ignore when you're in a functioning relationship. That is somehow even more cool. This year, however, I've decided to think of ways to appreciate it in a way both reserved and tasteful. So here are some dogs frolicking in Paris streets. 

Photography via Peter Turnley.

DEL VALLE REGIONAL PARK

Livermore

It rained all weekend, which was badly needed, but being cooped up indoors means that you have time to miss the green.  So I took a virtual meander through my memory cards and found these from Del Valle Regional Park. 

It's a nice and easy stroll, with some rolling hills (see above) and very little elevation gain. There's a expansive lake which I captured a tiny piece of, and which is probably the park's best and main feature. When the weather is more accommodating, you can kayak, boat, fish, and possibly even swim. Unfortunately, I couldn't get a good shot, it probably seems squat and dirty from that angle, so you're just going to have to take my word for it. 

PREVENTING THE ASIAN FLUSH

I'm allergic to alcohol, and there are all sorts of suggestions out there, mostly from well meaning friends to drink a bottle of pepto bismo before going out, take anti-histamines, slowly build up tolerance by downing a glass of wine a day. My question has always been - is it really worth it to get sloshed? How important is it to go wine tasting? 

Then this appeared. I'm on the fence. #Firstworldproblems.

FICTION AND NON-FICTION: THE SILKWORM AND 10% HAPPIER

The Silkworm and 10% Happier

The Silkworm

Everyone knows that Robert Galbraith is JK Rowling in disguise. I know that as well, but if Rowling wants to write as Galbraith, then I will review Galbraith as Galbraith. This is the second book in the Cormoran Strike series, which is a vulnerable time in a book series. The initial freshness of the first book has gone, while familiarity with characters has not been established. I didn't enjoy this book as a a mystery. This isn't to say that it wasn't enjoyable - what I liked was the steady development of the characters, Strike in particular. 

With this second book, Galbraith slowly fleshes out his two main partners, Cormoran and Robin, and their relationship to each other. There's a delicate balance that has to be maintained; there's a sense of tension. You don't know where it's going. That is where the main drama lies, at least for me. The case they're pursuing is not as engaging, and I'll leave it at that. The richness of the novel comes from every character detail as they are revealed. You can feel the firm and steady hand of the author behind these characters, shaping them until they can stand on their own.  

10% Happier

Up until this book, I wasn't exactly sure what it was that television news reporters did. I assumed most of them read straight from the teleprompter, in a way reminiscent of Cyrano de Bergerac. Apparently, they research and pitch their own stories and read what they themselves have scripted. So in that sense, I was mistaken.   

What I liked about this book, is that it addressed the most practical way to apply meditation and Buddhist principles to problems you will face in your daily life, such as the vague flash of panic you may see in the eyes of your family and friends when you start talking about meditation and Buddhism. 

Like a good journalist, Harris continually questions his chosen topic, approaching meditation from all angles, subjecting his practice to hard and endless questions, and deriving a methodical, realistic approach in return. His answers and his meditative practice are complicated and reasoned, and a good  way to go about finding your own way.

HOW TO FIND FULFILLING WORK

THE MESS PROJECT POSTERS

Lefkada Greece

More art. The world needs more art. So I went and found some from The Mess Project on Etsy. On top we have Lefkada Greece, followed closely by Love and Just Friends.

THE ONE ABOUT THE SUPERNATURAL CONVENTION

Mark Shepherd avoids a fan

I lack the purity of conviction, the stamina, and frankly the funds to be a true Supernatural fan, but I did manage to attend one day out of a three day convention and had a fun time. All the actors on that show are pretty great - without scripts. I like the pic I have of Mark Shepherd here, ahem "Crowley," who I captured casually sauntering down the aisle while a fan rushes towards him. Unlike his character, he really didn't bother shaving or dressing in a suit for the occasion.

I was not expecting actors without scripts to be as good off the cuff, but the cast is more than just a lot of pretty faces - they are also really perverted live. In a good way. It lasted so long I had to take a nap on the floor. No stamina, as I mentioned. If there were two things that I dearly wish the venue had provided, it would be 1) better food and 2) body pillows of cast members for sale. I can no longer justify having posters of men on my wall, or God forbid, an entire monthly calendar, but no one needs to know about my personal collection of body pillows. 

Castiel costume contest

Clockwise: Crowley greets a small Castiel; the fake cast; Sebastian Roche and Mark Pellegrino talk

Everything I failed to buy. After graduating from college, I can no longer justify having posters of cute men on my wall.

FUN LINKS

Red Rock Canyon

Chip Wilson Can Kiss My Fat Yoga Ass: A Lululemon Ambassador Speaks Out

Lululemon is one of those brands that exists as a vague, faintly negative feeling somewhere in my abstract subconscious. I could never articulate what made that brand feel weird to me, possibly some of Chip Wilson's comments, possibly the fact that it's so expensive which in turn made yoga an elite activity. Here is a clear, well articulated article that made all of those vague concepts come together.

The 'Mountain Mural' Bedroom Makeover

I have a mural in my bedroom too. It's made of some decals I bought off Etsy. I was pretty proud of myself at the time, and then I saw this.

10 New Year's Cooking Goals

2015, the year when I successfully brainwash myself into loving to cook, when the the saying "I Heart cooking" will replace my previous mantra "Cooking sucks."

NeoLucida: the 21st Century Camera

Do you know someone who loves to draw? Then get them this. When it's back in stock. 

7 Things I Learned in 7 Years of Reading, Writing, and Living

I've been reading Brain Pickings on and off for years, and she always has consistently good content. Deep content. Consistent deep content. It blows my mind. 

Chocolate Vanilla Mousse

Because it's delicious.

Writing Your Way to Happiness

The tendency some of the time is to perceive writing as work or torture, but it can also be a transformative tool, changing the way you perceive the world and your place in it, and then potentially allowing you to chart the course of your life through a pen.*

*Or keypad, if you want to be a realist.

OUT AND ABOUT: RED ROCK CANYON STATE PARK

Red Rock Canyon

I been away from this site for awhile, partly from lack of discipline, and partly to discipline myself to get away from my computer. This thing sucks up way too much time. Do I want to look back on my life and recall that 70% of it was spent online? So that was my train of thought

In order to distract myself, I went here: Red Rock Canyon, a little ways outside Las Vegas. Most people come to Vegas to indulge in their vices, and I came here and got lost. This park is good for climbers, and people that stay on the road. It's a relaxing scenic drive, and everyone you see teetering out in the fringes is most likely bushwhacking. That's where I was, mucking about.

There are hardly any signs to show you where you are, and no one mentioned this little detail on Trip Advisor. But if you keep the main road in sight and don't have a tendency to wander, the scenery will grip you. The rock is red in color, and thereby gives the park it's name, I assume. Nature rarely gives you this much color to work with, this much texture.  When I got back, I assumed I had become a much better photographer.