Leo Bloom, Willy Wonka, Dr. Frankenstein

I've been interested in autobiographies for a long time. It like to hear what people have to say about themselves. Some of the ones I have read were better than others, but every one I can remember had at least some redeeming factors. I think it takes a little bit of pretentiousness to end up writing a book about yourself. Of course before it actually gets published, it also takes someone who thinks that you are important enough to merit a book, or probably more likely, considered interesting or extreme enough to make some money on.

The autobiography I just finished was Gene Wilder's, Kiss Me Like a Stranger. It was a little less funny than I had thought, but it certainly was interesting. Lots of name drops like there tend to be in books like this, but I guess they aren't really name drops when they are the people you really know. When you've been married to Gilda Radner, been Willy Wonka, been in and written multiple movies with Mel Brooks, and done multiple movies with Richard Pryor, you've certainly met some interesting people along the way. He has led a fascinating life and wrote a pretty interest book about it.

He didn't sugar coat the things. He hasn't been great with relationships. He is selfish. Honestly, at the end of the book, I didn't have a great feeling up being uplifted by an inspiring life that has overcome so many obstacles, I was struck more by thinking how close I could be to a guy like him. My personality is pretty similar. I am not and will never be a talented actor and writer, but I could give in to my natural tendency to spend a lot of time inside myself. I could destroy relationships by remaining so concerned with my own needs that I don't enjoy my time with people. I could always look for the next best thing to come rather than enjoying a moment. I'm hopeful that I have learned and am learning enough to keep that from being my story.

Playlist:
Why? - Alopecia
The Choir - Chase the Kangaroo
Radiohead - Amnesiac
Iron and Wine - The Shepherd's Dog
Half Handed Cloud - Thy is A Word & Feet Need Lamps
Gillian Welch - Time (The Revelator)
The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Hood - Outside Closer
Murder By Death - Who Will Survive and What Will Be Left of Them?
Mogwai - Happy Songs for Happy People
Counting Crows - Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings
Robert Deeble - Thirteen Stories
Rainer Maria - Long Knives Drawn
Zao - Where Blood and Fire Bring Rest
Low - Drums and Guns
The Frames - For the Birds
The Gutter Twins - Saturnalia

The Murray Outrage

Its been fun to get out on the roads of my neighborhood on my bike. I was probably in 8th grade or so when I last rode the old lime green Murray mountain bike that I had as a kid. To get all the way across campus in 20 minutes, I tried the bike thing for a semester, but that never really worked out. The old lime green bike was the one I really remember. I rode the streets of my old neighborhood hundreds of times on it. I even had a cheapo speedometer/odometer/timer on it that added to the entertainment. How fast could I make the loop? How fast could I get going on the straightaways? I was out having fun. I didn't have anything better to do. I wasn't going anywhere in particular.

I've come to really like city life, but riding around the neighborhood these past couple of days has reminded me of how nice and peaceful things were when I remembered that its ok for life to move slower. It's nice to ride around in circles without really getting anywhere. It's nice to see folks walking their dogs. It's nice to see a kid playing baseball in his front yard. It all reminds me to slow down and enjoy. There are tons of ways I have been blessed that I neglect to see because of the pace of life.

It seems like I always come up with something "better" to do than slow down. It just seems to be my nature to stay on the go. Me being busy too often doesn't mean I am being productive either. I am starting to see some ground being taken back though. Life feels like it has slowed down, but I am still getting more done. When I go through seasons like this, I always wonder how I let myself get so stuck in the routine of going and going without accomplishing a thing other than spent time and money. I guess the comfort of that laziness is too easy. I'm thankful that God has used a couple of trips around the block to remind me of the life that is found in slowing down and really getting something done.

This Week's Playlist:
Ben Folds - Songs for Silverman
Mike Knott and Noah Reimer - Mother Nation
Efterklang - Parades
Robert Johnson - The Blues
Why? - Elephant Eyelash
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - The Boatman's Call
Love Spit Love - Love Spit Love
Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga
The National - Boxer
Waterdeep - Heart Attack Time Machine
Woven Hand - Woven Hand