When I'm in a rut I tend to enjoy baking. Cakes and cookies mainly but I get creative. I like baking because I feel accomplished after and it doesn't really take much time to do so and I get to try something that is either known and comforting or unknown and exhilarating. Also I love how baking is different from cooking. Cooking tends to be an amalgamation of cultures (burritos are from California not Mexico but are absolutely lovely in their hybridization) while baking seems connected to a country or place; there's nothing more American than a chocolate chip cookie or more French than a madeleine. Plus, while we cook for ourselves (and our family) it's difficult to eat a full cake yourselves so there's a wonderful aspect of giving associated with baking whether it is brownies for your neighbors or leftover cake for co-workers. And people love to compliment bakers on their sweets which, when you're in a rut, isn't a bad thing to get either.
Matt, I love the idea of baking as giving, which makes so much sense. I've always liked the idea of baking, but hold myself back because I honestly don't know who to give the baked goods to and fear I'll have to eat it all, haha!
I never really thought about how cooking is a collection of cultures while baking is more set to specific cultures. It makes sense though. It seems easier to alter cooking recipes than baking recipes? But maybe that's just me being ignorant about baking. :,)
I'm always extremely impressed by people who are into baking. As an outsider it always feels very magical from the outside, and famously full of love.
Wow, hadn't heard of her work. I did just read my first graphic novel though..! Tessa is an acquaintance of mine, and I'm wondering if you've heard of it. She is also a distance biker. https://tessahulls.com/section/463226-Current%20Project.html
Lol, thank you Christian, I will continue my farting journey as long as I possibly can!
Omg, first graphic novel read! How awesome, I love to hear that!
I am not familiar with Tessa, but I just looked her up and I am INCREDIBLY intrigued! Her art is very striking, I love the contrast she applies. Her instagram looks like a dream (with all the biking alongside the cartooning).
I can imagine being her friend (like the creep I am).
How did you like her graphic novel? I just started following her on IG, I'm excited to learn more!
It's seriously SO FUCKING GOOD. I'm excited for you to get to read it.
It is so many layers of thoughtful I barely know where to begin.
Also, YES-- HER ART STYLE! I love the way she draws big shoulders and small heads and thick necks. I've honestly tried to replicate aspects of her style before just to play around and see if it could work for me. So many aspects of it delight me on so many levels.
ALSO I'M VISITING THE BAY THIS OCTOBER! I'd love to see you and Janette!
omg Matt, the levels of flattered-- a SFB playlist?!!?!? I AM SO HAPPY!
Also yes, I've gotten very into Erykah Badu's "Mama's Gun" album. I kind of stumbled upon it from a Songwriter's interview from Variety (or something like that) and I think Alicia Keys said it was one of the albums that most influenced her.
The whole album is like butter and the lyrics are so beautiful and poetic. It's really been a great late discovery on my end!
Oh yeah and I looked at PI.FYI and I love how early internet it looks! What a charming throwback-- consider me intrigued!
I've been listening to radiooooo.com while editing my book pitch for the past 3 hours!
I love that it's global. There is so much amazing music. So many songs I can't find on Spotify either. What gems!
It's also such a pleasure to experience a corner of the internet that's not some billion dollar corporate product, too. Just people connecting and sharing with others.
Had not been familiar with Eleanor Davis, thank you for sharing. Her work—what I've seen from this post and clicking a few links—really seems to carry so much weight and emotion.
The "I didn't say...but that is also true" panel carries a world of feeling and history. Appreciate this intersection of words and art.
When I'm in a rut I tend to enjoy baking. Cakes and cookies mainly but I get creative. I like baking because I feel accomplished after and it doesn't really take much time to do so and I get to try something that is either known and comforting or unknown and exhilarating. Also I love how baking is different from cooking. Cooking tends to be an amalgamation of cultures (burritos are from California not Mexico but are absolutely lovely in their hybridization) while baking seems connected to a country or place; there's nothing more American than a chocolate chip cookie or more French than a madeleine. Plus, while we cook for ourselves (and our family) it's difficult to eat a full cake yourselves so there's a wonderful aspect of giving associated with baking whether it is brownies for your neighbors or leftover cake for co-workers. And people love to compliment bakers on their sweets which, when you're in a rut, isn't a bad thing to get either.
Matt, I love the idea of baking as giving, which makes so much sense. I've always liked the idea of baking, but hold myself back because I honestly don't know who to give the baked goods to and fear I'll have to eat it all, haha!
I never really thought about how cooking is a collection of cultures while baking is more set to specific cultures. It makes sense though. It seems easier to alter cooking recipes than baking recipes? But maybe that's just me being ignorant about baking. :,)
I'm always extremely impressed by people who are into baking. As an outsider it always feels very magical from the outside, and famously full of love.
Wow, hadn't heard of her work. I did just read my first graphic novel though..! Tessa is an acquaintance of mine, and I'm wondering if you've heard of it. She is also a distance biker. https://tessahulls.com/section/463226-Current%20Project.html
Keep fartin' along
- Christian
Lol, thank you Christian, I will continue my farting journey as long as I possibly can!
Omg, first graphic novel read! How awesome, I love to hear that!
I am not familiar with Tessa, but I just looked her up and I am INCREDIBLY intrigued! Her art is very striking, I love the contrast she applies. Her instagram looks like a dream (with all the biking alongside the cartooning).
I can imagine being her friend (like the creep I am).
How did you like her graphic novel? I just started following her on IG, I'm excited to learn more!
Wow her visual style is so cool. I added You & a Bike & a Road to my to-read list. Looks fantastic
It's seriously SO FUCKING GOOD. I'm excited for you to get to read it.
It is so many layers of thoughtful I barely know where to begin.
Also, YES-- HER ART STYLE! I love the way she draws big shoulders and small heads and thick necks. I've honestly tried to replicate aspects of her style before just to play around and see if it could work for me. So many aspects of it delight me on so many levels.
ALSO I'M VISITING THE BAY THIS OCTOBER! I'd love to see you and Janette!
I can't wait to read it!
Also -- whaaat! Sweet. When in October? It's a bit of a hectic month for us but we'd love to meet up!
Thanks for the "...& On" recommendation. Digging it now. I could put it on repeat and get a lot of work done!
(I'm putting together a SFB playlist to keep track of this new-for-me music!)
(Also finding myself loving the social network PI.FYI—network, not media!—for all the fresh music recs on there.)
omg Matt, the levels of flattered-- a SFB playlist?!!?!? I AM SO HAPPY!
Also yes, I've gotten very into Erykah Badu's "Mama's Gun" album. I kind of stumbled upon it from a Songwriter's interview from Variety (or something like that) and I think Alicia Keys said it was one of the albums that most influenced her.
The whole album is like butter and the lyrics are so beautiful and poetic. It's really been a great late discovery on my end!
Oh yeah and I looked at PI.FYI and I love how early internet it looks! What a charming throwback-- consider me intrigued!
...and radiooooo.com — so much fun!
uuuUUUUUUUHHMMMMMM.
THIS IS SO FUCKING COOL!
I love this so much, thank you for sharing, Matt!!
And where else would I have ever heard...
"Put Down Your Cigarette Rag" (Allen Ginsberg) or discovered Fairuz or heard the slightly gross but still magnetic "Hunger is From by Ken Nordine.
Yes, and all credit to finding it a few days ago as a rec on PI.FYI!
I never listen to the radio like I once did. But I miss something about it: the surrender of control, uncertainty, and discovery. This nails it!
I've been listening to radiooooo.com while editing my book pitch for the past 3 hours!
I love that it's global. There is so much amazing music. So many songs I can't find on Spotify either. What gems!
It's also such a pleasure to experience a corner of the internet that's not some billion dollar corporate product, too. Just people connecting and sharing with others.
Had not been familiar with Eleanor Davis, thank you for sharing. Her work—what I've seen from this post and clicking a few links—really seems to carry so much weight and emotion.
The "I didn't say...but that is also true" panel carries a world of feeling and history. Appreciate this intersection of words and art.
So glad you liked what you read about Eleanor!
She has so many more books and art than I had the time to even mention in this post.
I am endlessly impressed by her talent and so thankful she exists as an artist and person.