A commitment.
As I’ve blogged about before, I’m significantly lighter than I used to be.
Today, I give away a pair of pants that I might call my “safety” pants — the ones that fit me loosely, that I “could” fit into if I gained some of my weight back.
As I give them away today, I commit to myself that I won’t need them anymore.
Or ever again.
Mostly Everclear, Etheridge...and some Eminem.
Today…CD day…I give away the E’s.
The highlights:
Steve Earle – I’ll admit, I came pretty late to the Steve Earle party. But I’m a huge fan…he’s such an inspiring story, beating his addictions…and creating socially conscious music with a solid sound. I’ve seen him perform live, and trust me…I will again.
Everclear – While they’ve definitely hit a few rough patches in their sound lately, I admire their early work…especially “I will buy you a new life,” and “Unemployed boyfriend.” If you don’t know them, I’ve got a three word genre…”Divorced Dad Beats.”
Eels – I just recently have come to appreciate their sound. So hard to define, yet so familiar in so many ways.
Melissa Etheridge – I saw her VERY early in her career, and was a huge fan. I’ve fallen off her bandwagon over the last few years…as I’ve seen her pigeonholed because of her social stance and outward homosexuality. I wish…somehow…she could connect to that former sound she used to have…the sound of a closeted Kansas woman who was expressing her rage and her point-of-view through gutsy music.
Eminem – I don’t have a lot of rap in my collection, but I’ve always appreciated Mr. Mathers…again, I prefered him in the “younger and angrier” version.
Unfortunately, still relevant.
What a discovery amongst the books I’ve been getting ready to RID.
The author? Oh, just a senator now…helping to drive a little change.
The subject? Oh, the same windbag he always was.
In fact, a cursory glance through this book shows how little of the conservative ridiculousness has changed. Same old Rush, same old Hannity, Fox News, etc.
As we approach November, it’s a good reminder how we all need to step up to the polls and vote our conscience. And maybe, just maybe, REMEMBER how we got into some of this mess.
I happily pass this book along to someone who will benefit from it. If only people were still reading (sigh.)
Still, in my opinion, the most beautiful city in the world.
Another day, another coffee table book.
As I look at this book, I remember Paris – a terrific city, and one I’ve spent about 9-10 trips exploring.
Paris is a city that truly has changed my attitudes about travel. About how to get beneath the obvious tourist sites and go exploring. About how to accept and be open-minded about other cultures and their differences. About how to “roll with the punches” when things don’t go your way, or when a rude waiter argues with you about the lamb he expects you to eat when you clearly ordered the coq au vin.
I haven’t been back to Paris in over 5 years, and it occurs to me — as much as I love that city, I’m not exactly eager to go back. I might even be (gulp) too familiar with Paris, and I now embrace seeing something new every travel experience rather than going back to something I loved, enjoyed, and want to see again.
I guess I’m voting for new experiences every time.
Good fodder for more thinking – but this time…about daily life.
Passing it forward.
Today I give away a coffee table book featuring works by my favorite artist, Miro.
According to the rules I set out yesterday, I have to. I haven’t opened this book in years.
I’m hoping that this book finds its way to someone who appreciates his work as much as I do.
Looking at this book today reminds me of my two trips to Spain, and how much I enjoyed visiting that country. I’d have to say of all my trips, my two trips to Spain rank as #1 and #2…so much to enjoy there. The people. The wine. The attitude towards life.
Hmmm….need to go back some day…soon.
I can't think of one good reason I was keeping this.
I guess I’m in a “raincoat giving away” kind of mood lately.
I can’t believe I was hanging on to this. Especially when:
1) I don’t live in Seattle anymore, so my need for a raincoat is far less often.
2) I’ve lost quite a bit of weight since I bought this, and it doesn’t fit me any more.
3) I have a couple of other raincoats I prefer to this one, so I haven’t worn this in years.
Goodbye raincoat, slicker, or whatever you’d prefer to be called. Here’s hoping you keep the next owner dry.
Hadn't cracked this book in years.
I have a number of coffee table books gathering dust – I’d rather they were gathering coffee.
Starting today, if they haven’t been opened in a year…they’re out. And this one’s the first.
I got this many, many years ago to keep the memory of one of my first trips to San Francisco alive. But now, oh so many years later…it’s going to RID.
Little did I know when I bought this book, that I’d end up living in San Francisco for five years. My time in San Francisco had some highs (the birth of my daughter,) and some lows (living in San Francisco during the “dot com” boom – when no one seemed to care about building any real equity in their companies, they were just looking to get their stock options, cash them in, and get out.)
I recognize my time in San Francisco was odd to say the least. I’m one of the few people on the planet who DIDN’T like my time living there. If it weren’t for the friends I met there, some of which I’m still in touch with…I fear my time there would’ve been wasted.
But, because of those friends,…it wasn’t.
Indeed.
I got this book a number of years ago.
What made me buy it was a chapter about how to account, to the bottom line…the effects of advertising.
I’ve been in the business for 22 years now, and it’s a debate still raging. How does advertising pay for itself?
As a person who’s made his entire career in advertising, I can tell you without a doubt, that good advertising moves brands and businesses. But, it’s hard to put an exact number on it.
Just like a good PR article.
Or a change of a salesperson in a territory.
Yes, you can measure the change that happened due to several factors…but it’s hard to assign a specific dollar value to each, since multiple changes happen in the marketplace while the advertising, or PR, or salesperson…is changing.
No matter how hard we try…we end up with indicators, and presumptions.
And when people don’t understand, or admit that, we get ourselves into trouble.
Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.
Memories of good economic times.
Today, I give away a business book.
As I cast it onto the RID project, I’m reminded of my time I lived in Los Angeles, working at Chiat/Day, helping Nissan achieve great success. It was a great time in my career.
As I put this on the stack of the RID project, it reminds me not to rest on the laurels of what I’ve done in the past…but to put practical steps together to help me achieve new heights.
Onward and upward.
No more kayak...no more Seattle.
Today I give away a high-quality rain slicker.
But…I’m not really giving it away today.
You see, I’m off to Cuba for a cultural exchange trip in December, and I fully intend to leave it behind there. I figure that such a high quality slicker might do some good in a place where they’re used to tropical rains.
I bought this raincoat to wear while kayaking in Seattle. Since I gave the kayak away months ago (what a good RID project item that would have been!) — and I don’t live in Seattle anymore — seemed like a good thing to add to the stack.
Thinking of my upcoming trip to Cuba reminds me of my one travel regret – I’ve never been to Russia – either before or after the Soviet Union fell. That’s one of the reasons I’m not passing on this chance to visit Cuba legally — the chance to see a country BEFORE major changes happen to it.
And hopefully going back AFTER.
Here’s to travel, open minds, and learning from new experiences.
What I got rid of today. 